Carrie Mae Weems, May Flowers, 2002, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund

© Carrie Mae Weems, courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery. New York

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76TH SEASON OF CONCERTS

MAY 6, 2018 / NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Program

Julia Bullock, soprano

John Arida, piano

MAY 6, 2018/3:30

WEST BUILDING, WEST GARDEN COURT

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

“Suleika I,” D. 720, 1821, from a poem

by Marianne von Willemer (1784-

1860), titled “Suleika”

“Lachen und Weinen,” D. 777, from

a poem by Friedrich Riickert (1788-

1866), titled “Lachen und Weinens Grund”

“Wandrers Nachdied II,” D. 768,

c. 1823, from a poem by Johann

Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832),

titled “Wandrers Nachtlied: Ein gleiches”

“Seligkeit,” D. 433, from a poem by 

Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Holty

(1748-1776), and reworked byjohann

Heinrich Vofi (1751-1826), titled

“Minnelied”

Translations by Julia Bullock, edited by 

Christian Reif

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Hermit Songs

“At St. Patrick’s Purgatory,” 13th-century

anonymous Irish text. Translated by 

Sean O Faolain (1900-1991)

“Church Bell at Night,” 12th-century

anonymous Irish text. Translated by 

Howard Mumford Jones (1892-1980)

“St. Ita’s Vision,” attributed to St. Ita, 8th

century. Translated by Chester Kallman

(1921-1975)

“The Heavenly Banquet,” attributed to

St. Brigid, 10th century. Translated by 

Sean O Faolain

“The Crucifixion,” from The Speckled

Book, 12th century. Translated by 

Howard Mumford Jones

“Sea Snatch,” c. 9th-century anonymous

Irish text. Translated by Kenneth H.

Jackson (1909-1991)

“Promiscuity,” 9th-century anonymous

Irish text. Translated by Kenneth H.

Jackson

2

“The Monk and Flis Cat,” c. 9th-century

anonymous Irish text. Translated by 

W.H. Auden (1907-1973)

“The Praises of God,” 11th-century

anonymous Irish text. Translated by

W.H. Auden

“The Desire for Hermitage,” c. 9thcentury anonymous Irish text. Based

on a translation by Sean O Faolain

Intermission

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

From La chanson dEve. Poems by 

Charles Van Lerberghe (1861-1907).

Translations byjulia Bullock 

“Prima verba”

“Roses ardentes”

“Comme Dieu rayonne...”

“Veilles-tu, ma senteur de soleil...”

“Crepuscule”

“O mort, poussiere d’etoile”

Spencer Williams (1889-1965)

“Driftin’ Tide”

Maceo Pinkard (1897-1962)

“You Can’t "Fell the Difference

after Dark”

Cora “Lovie” Austin (1887-1972) and

Alberta Hunter (1895-1984)

“Downhearted Blues”

Jeremy Siskind (b. 1986)

“Frog Tongue Stomp: A Lovie Austin

Tribute,” instrumental

Billie Holiday (1915-1959),

R. Conway (20th century),

Basil G. Alba (20th century), and

Sonny White (1917-1971)

“Our Love is Different”*

Nina Simone (1933- 2003) and

WeldonJonathan Irvine Jr.

(1943-2002)

“Revolution”

Nina Simone

“Four Women”

*Arranged byJeremy Siskind

3
The Musicians

JULIA BULLOCK

Equally at home with opera and concert repertoire, soprano Julia Bullock has

captivated audiences with her versatile artistry and commanding stage presence. In

the 2017-2018 season, Bullock has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra

under the baton ofAndris Nelsons in its Leonard Bernstein Gala; sung Pamina in 

concert performances of Die Zauberflote with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles 

Philharmonic; and made her San Lrancisco Opera debut in the world premiere of

Girls ofthe Golden West, composed byJohn Adams to a libretto by Peter Sellars.

Bullock has also performed as Clara in Porgy and Bess with the Sydney Symphony

Orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in John Adams’s El Nino, in West Side

Story at the Hollywood Bowl, and as soloist with various orchestras, including the

London Symphony Orchestra with Simon Rattle.

Bullock participated in the artists-in-training program with the Opera Theater

of St. Louis. Her accolades include a 2016 Sphinx Loundation Medal of Excellence,

Lincoln Center’s 2015 Martin E. Segal Award, Lirst Prize at the 2014 Naumburg

International Vocal Competition, and Lirst Prize at the 2012 Young Concert Artists 

International Auditions. She holds degrees from the Eastman School ofMusic and

the Bard Graduate Vocal Arts Program, as well as an artist’s diploma from the

Juilliard School.

Originally from St. Louis, Bullock integrates her musical life with community

activism. She has organized and participated in benefit concerts in support ofthe Music

and Medicine Initiative for New York’s Weill Medical Center, and the Shropshire Music 

Loundation, a nonprofit that serves war-affected children and adolescents through

music education and performances in Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and Uganda.

4

JOHN ARIDA

John Arida is a pianist and vocal coach based in New York City who specializes in

both opera and art song. In 2017, his performance in Amy Beach’s Cabildo at the

Central City Opera in Colorado was critically acclaimed. Arida’s 2017-2018 season

includes recital tours with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and with soprano Julia

Bullock. He holds staff positions at the Juilliard School and the Central City Opera

and is on the panel for the Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition. He has served 

as staff pianist at the Juilliard School, the Virginia Opera, the Central City Opera,

Virginia’s Castleton Lestival, and the Prototype Lestival, where he prepared the New

York premiere of anatomy theater by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lang.

Other notable engagements include a performance at Carnegie Hall and recital

debuts with Isabel Leonard in Mexico and soprano Simone Osborne in Toronto.

Arida performed with SirJames Galway in the memorial tribute to Maestro Lorin

Maazel and has worked with Peter Sellars on Kaija Saariaho’s La Passion de Simone for

the orchestral academy ofthe Berliner Philharmoniker and the Ojai Lestival. Arida

holds a master’s degree in collaborative piano from Juilliard, as well as a bachelor’s

degree in vocal performance from SUNY Purchase.

5
Text and Translations

FRANZ SCHUBERT

“Suleika I,” D. 720

Was bedeutet die Bewegung?

Bringt der Ost mir frohe Kunde?

Seiner Schwingen frische Regung

Kiihlt des Herzens tiefe Wunde.

Kosend spielt er mit dem Staube,

Jagt ihn aufin leichten Wolkchen,

Treibt zur sichern Rebenlaube

Der Insekten frohes Volkchen.

Lindert sanft der Sonne Gliihen,

Kiihlt auch mir die heiben Wangen,

Kiibt die Reben noch im Fliehen,

Die auf Feld und Hiigel prangen.

Und mir bringt sein leises Fliistern

Von dem Freunde tausend Griibe;

Eh’ noch diese Hiigel diistern,

Griiben mich wohl tausend Kiisse.

Und so kannst du weiter ziehen! 

Deine Freunden und Betriibten.

Dort wo hohe Mauern gliihen,

Dort find’ ich bald den Vielgeliebten.

Ach, die wahre Herzenskunde,

Liebeshauch, erfrischtes Leben

Wird mir nur aus seinem Munde,

Kann mir nur sein Athem geben.

“Suleika /,” D. 720

What does the motion mean?

Does the East bring me glad tidings?

The refreshing and stirring ofits oscillation

Chills the deep wound ofmy heart.

It gently plays with the dust,

Chasing it into light clouds,

And drives the cheerful insect-folk

Into the security ofthe arbor vines.

It softly relieves the sun’s glow,

It also cools my hot cheeks,

It kisses the vines as itflees,

Winch are emblazoned on thefields and hills.

And itssoft whispering brings me

A thousand greetingsfrom my beloved;

Before these hills dim,

I am greeted by a thousand kisses.

And so, you can go on your way!

Yourfriends and the dejected ones.

There, where high walls glow,

There, Ishallsoonfind my dearly beloved.

Oh, the true tidings ofhis heart,

Love If breath, and refreshing life

Come to me onlyfrom his mouth,

And can be given to me only by his breath.

6

“Lachen und Weinen,” D. 777

Lachen und Weinen zu jeglicher Stunde

Ruht bei der Lieb aufso mancherlei Grunde.

Morgens lacht’ ich vor Lust,

Und warum ich nun weine

Bei des Abendes Scheine,

1st mir selb’ nicht bewufk.

Weinen und Lachen zu jeglicher Stunde

Ruht bei der Lieb’ aufso mancherlei Grunde.

Abends weint’ ich vor Schmerz;

Lind warum du erwachen

Kannst am Morgen mit Lachen,

Mub ich dich fragen, O Herz.

“Wandrers Nachtlied II,” D. 768

Uber alien Gipfeln

1st Ruh,

In alien Wipfeln

Spiirest du 

Kaum einen Hauch;

Die voglein schweigen im Walde.

Warte nur, balde 

Ruhest du auch.

“Laughing and Weeping,” D. 777

Laughing and weeping at any hour

Rest on so many reasons when it comes to love.

In the morning Ilaughforjoy,

And why I now weep

In the evening glow,

Issomething unknown to me.

Weeping and laughing at any hour

Rest on so many reasons when it comes to Love.

In the evening I weepforsorrow;

And why can you awaken

In the morning with laughter,

Must I ask you, O heart.

Wayfarer’s Evening Song II, D. 768

Over all the summits

Is peace,

In all the treetops

You feel

Hardly a breath;

The birdsfallsilent in theforest.

Only wait, soon

You too shall rest.

7
“Seligkeit,

”D. 433

Freuden sonder Zahl

Bliihn im Himmelssaal

Engeln und Verklarten,

Wie die Vater lehrten. O da mocht ich sein,

Und mich ewig freun!

Jedem lachelt traut

Eine Himmelsbraut;

Harf und Psalter klinget,

Und man tanzt und singet. O da mocht’ ich sein,

Und mich ewig freun!

Lieber bleib’ ich hier, 

Lachelt Laura mir

Einen Blick, der saget,

Dafi ich angeklaget.

Selig dann mit ihr,

Bleib’ ich ewig hier!

“Bliss,” D. 433

Joys without number

Bloom in heaven’s hall

For angels and, transfigured beings,

As ourfathers taught us.

O, thereIwould like to be

Andforever rejoice!

Upon everyone dearly smiles A heavenly bride;

Harp andpsalter resound,

And one dances and sings.

O, thereI would like to be

And rejoice forever!

Fd ratherstay here,

Smiling, Laura sends me A look that says, Iwas accused.

Blissfully then with her.; Iwillstay hereforever!

8

SAMUEL BARBER, HERMIT SONGS

“At St. Patrick’s Purgatory”

Pity me on my pilgrimage to Loch Derg!*

O King of the churches and the bells

bewailing your sores and your wounds,

But nota tear canI squeeze from my eyes!

Not moisten an eye after so much sin!

Pity me,O King!

What shallI do witha heart that seeks only its own ease?

O only begotten Son by whom all men were made,

who shunned not the death by three wounds,

pity me on my pilgrimage to Loch Derg

andI witha heart not softer thana stone!

“Church Bell at Night”

Sweet little bell, struck ona windy night,

I would liefer keep tryst with thee

Than be

Witha light and foolish woman.

“St. Ita’s Vision”

“I will take nothing from my Lord,” said she,

“unless Lie gives me His Son from Heaven

In the form ofa Baby thatI may nurse Him.”

So that Christ came down to her

in the form ofa Baby and then she said:

“InfantJesus, at my breast,

Nothing in this world is true

Save,O tiny nursling, You.

InfantJesus at my breast,

By my heart every night,

YouI nurse are nota churl

But were begot on Mary the Jewess

By Heaven’s light.

InfantJesus at my breast,

What King is there but You who could

Give everlasting Good?

whereforeI give my food.

Sing to Him, maidens, sing your best!

* Loch Derg (Red Lake) in County Donegal, a pilgrimage site from early times

9
There is none that has such right

To your song as Heaven’s King

Who every night

Is InfantJesus at my breast.”

“The Heavenly Banquet”

I would like to have the men of Heaven in my own house; 

with vats of good cheer laid out for them.

I would like to have the three Marys,

their tame is so great.

I would like people from every corner of Heaven.

I would like them to be cheerful in their drinking.

I would like to have Jesus sitting here among them.

I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.

I would like to be watching Heaven’s family 

Drinking it through all eternity.

“The Crucifixion”

At the cry of the first bird

They began to crucify Thee, O Swan!

Never shall lament cease because of that.

It was like the parting of day from night.

Ah, sore was the suffering borne

By the body ofMary’s Son,

But sorer still to Him was the grief

Which for His sake

Came upon His Mother.

“Sea-Snatch”

It has broken us, it has crushed us, it has drowned us,

O King of the starbright Kingdom of Heaven!

The wind has consumed us, swallowed us,

as timber is devoured by crimson fire from Heaven.

It has broken us, it has crushed us, it has drowned us,

O King ofthe starbright Kingdom ofHeaven!

“Promiscuity”

I do not know with whom Edan will sleep, 

but I do know that fair Edan will not sleep alone.

“The Monk and His Cat”

Pangur, white Pangur,

How happy we are

10

Alone together,

Scholar and cat.

Each has his own work to do daily;

For you it is hunting, for me study.

Your shining eye watches the wall;

my feeble eye is fixed on a book.

You rejoice when your claws,

Entrap a mouse;

I rejoice when my mind

Fathoms a problem.

Pleased with his own art

Neither hinders the other;

Thus we live ever

Without tedium and envy.

Pangur, white Pangur,

How happy we are

Alone together,

Scholar and cat.

“The Praises ofGod”

How foolish the man

Who does not raise 

His voice and praise

With joyful words,

As he alone can,

Heaven’s High King.

To whom the light birds

With no soul but air,

All day, everywhere

Laudation sing.

“The Desire for Hermitage”

Ah! To be all alone in a little cell with nobody near me;

beloved that pilgrimage before the last pilgrimage to death.

Singing the passing hours to cloudy Heaven;

feeding upon dry bread and water from the cold spring.

That will be an end to evil when I am alone

in a lovely little corner among tombs

far from the houses of the great.

Ah! To be all alone in a little cell, to be alone, all alone: 

Alone I came into the world

alone I shall go from it.

11
GABRIEL FAURE, FROM LA CHANSON D’EVE

Prima Verba”

Comme elle chante

Dans ma voix

L’arne longtemps murmurante

Des fontaines et des bois!

Air limpide du paradis,

Avec tes grappes de rubis,

Avec tes gerbes de lumiere,

Avec tes roses et tes fruits,

Quelle merveille en nous a cette heure!

Des paroles depuis des ages endormies,

En des sons, en des fleurs

Sur mes levres enfin prennent vie.

Depuis que mon souffle a dit leur chanson,

Depuis que ma voix les a creees,

Quel silence heureux et profond

Nait de leurs ames allegees!

“Roses ardentes”

Roses ardentes

Dans l’immobile nuit,

C’est en vous que je chante

Et que je suis.

En vous, etincelles,

A la cime des bois,

Que je suis eternelle,

Et que je vois.

Q mer profonde,

C’est en toi que mon sang 

Renait vague blonde,

Et flot dansant.

Et c’est en toi, force supreme,

Soleil radieux,

Que mon ame elle-meme

Atteint son dieu!

‘First Word”

How itsings

In my voice,

The long-murmuring sold

Ofthefountains and the woods.

Limpid air of paradise,

With your clusters ofrubies,

With your bouquets oflight,

With yourroses andyourfruits,

What marvels within us at this hour!

Some words that have slumberedfor ages,

In sounds, inflowers,

On my lips at last, take life.

Since my breath has said theirsong,

Since my voice created them,

Whatjoyous and profound silence,

Is bom oftheirsouls made light.

“Ardent Roses”

Ardent roses

In the motionless night,

It is in you that I sing 

And that I am.

It is in you, sparkling,

At the summit of the forests

That I am eternal

And that I see.

O profound sea,

It is in you that my blood,

Is reborn in white wave,

And dancing tide.

It is in you, supreme force,

Radiant sun,

That my soul itself,

Attains its god!

12

“Comme Dieu rayonne..

Comme Dieu rayonne aujourd’hui, 

Comme il exulte, comme il fleurit

Parmi ces roses et ces fruits!

Comme il murmure en cette fontaine!

Ah! comme il chante en ces oiseaux...

Qu’elle est suave son haleine

Dans l’odorant printemps nouveau!

Comme il se baigne dans la lumiere

Avec amour, mon jeune dieu!

Toutes les choses de la terre

Sont ses vetements radieux.

“Veilles-tu, ma senteur de soleil”

Veilles-tu, ma senteur de soleil,

Mon arome d’abeilles blondes,

Flottes-tu sur le monde,

Mon doux parfum de miel?

La nuit, lorsque mes pas

Dans le silence rodent,

M’annonces-tu, senteur de mes Idas,

Et de mes roses chaudes?

Suis-je comme une grappe de fruits

Caches dans les feuilles,

Et que rien ne decele,

Mais qu’on odore dans la nuit?

Sait-il a cette heure,

Que j’entr’ouvre ma chevelure,

Et qu’elle respire?

Le sent-il sur la terre?

Sent-il que j’etends les bras 

Et que des lys de mes vallees,

Ma voix qu’il n’entend pas

Est embaumee?

“How God Radiates...”

How God radiates today,

How he exults, how heflourishes

Amongst these roses andfruits!

How he murmurs in thisfountain!

Ah! how he sings in these birds...

How sweet his breath is

In thefragrant new spring!

How he bathes himselfin the light

With love, my young god!

All things ofthe earth

Are his radiant garments.

“Are You Watching, My Scent ofSun ”

Are you watching, my scent ofsun,

My aroma ofblonde bees,

Do you float above the world,

My sweetperfume ofhoney?

At night, while my steps

roam in silence,

Do you announce me, scent ofmy lilacs,

And my warm roses?

Am Ilike a cluster offruit

Hidden in the leaves,

That reveals nothing,

But that one can smell in the night?

Is it known at this hour,

ThatI let loose my hair.;

And that it breathes?

Does one sense it above the earth?

Is it sensed that I extend amis

And thatfrom the lilies ofmy valleys

My voice, which cannot be heard,

Is perfumedwith balm?

13
“Crepuscule”

Ce soir, a travers le bonheur,

Qui done soupire, qu’est-ce qui pleure?

Qu’est-ce qui vient palpiter sur mon cceur,

Coinme un oiseu blesse?

“Twilight”

This evening, amidst the happiness,

Who then sighs, what is this that cries?

What is this which comes beating on my heart

Like a wounded bird?

Est-ce que une voix future?

Une voix du passe?

J’ecoute, jusqu’a la souffrance,

Ce son dans le silence.

Is it afuture voice,

A voicefrom the past?

1 listen, until it hurts,

To this sound in the silence.

lie d’oubli, 6 Paradis!

Quel cri dechire, dans la nuit,

Ta voix qui me berce?

Quel cri traverse

Ta ceinture de fleurs,

Et ton beau voile d’allegresse?

Isle ofoblivion, 0 Paradise!

What cry in the night tears apart

your voice which rocks me?

ATat cry cuts

Your belt offlowers,

Andyour beautiful veil ofjoy?

“O mort, poussiere d’etoile”

Q mort, poussiere d’etoiles,

Leve-toi sous mes pas!

“O Death, Dust ofStars”

0 death, dust ofstars

Rise up beneath my steps!

Viens, Q douce vague qui bribes

Dans les tenebres;

Emporte-moi dans ton neant.

Come, 0 sweet wave which gleams

In the darkness;

Cany me in your nothingness.

Viens, souffle sombre ou je vacille,

Comme une flamme ivre de vent!

Come, somber breath where Iflicker

Like aflame intoxicated by the wind!

C’est en toi que je veux m’etendre,

M’eteindre et me dissoudre,

It is in you that Iwish myself to expand

To extinguish and to dissolve,

Mort ou mon ame aspire! Death, where my sold aspires!

Viens, brise-moi comme une fleur d’ecume,

Une fleur de soleil a la cime des eaux,

Come, break me like aflower offoam

A bloom ofsun at the crest ofthe waters!

Et comme d’une amphore d’or

Un vin de flamme et d’arome divin,

Epanche mon ame

En ton abime, pour qu’elle embaume

La terre sombre et le souffle des morts.

And like a golden amphora

A wine offlame and divine aroma,

Pour out my soul

Into your abyss, so that it perfumes

The dark earth and the breath ofthe dead.

14

SPENCER WILLIAMS

“Driftin’ Tide”

Ail alone, I stand and watch the ocean roll

To bemoan, because the blues have got control

All alone, I stand with misery in my soul

Driftin’ Tide, till my man comes back to me.

All the night, I want the shore to ease my mind 

What a plight to be the one who’s left behind

It’s not right, because no piece at all I’ll find,

Driftin’ tide, I’m as blue as I can be.

He went away without a warning

And now my heart’s in pain,

I wonder with each day that’s dawning

Will I get him back again?

I just cry whenever morning comes around

Heave a sigh whenever evenin’ sun goes down,

That is why close by the ocean, I’ll be found

Driftin’ tide.

I don’t know where he went to

That’s why I moaned and sighed,

And still I know he meant to 

Leave me dissatisfied.

The ocean drives me crazy

Ever since we’ve been apart,

What a splashin’, crashin’, dashin’

Cuttin’ me to my heart.

Driftin’ tide, hear my plea

Send my sweet man, driftin’ back to me.

I just cry whenever morning comes around,

Heave a sigh whenever evenin’ sun goes down,

That is why, close by the ocean I’ll be found

Driftin’ tide, till my man comes back to me.
MACEO PINKARD

“You Can’tTell the Difference after Dark”

Look what the sun has done to me,

It seems there’s no more fun for me,

Why must all the boys act so shy?

I have guessed the reason why.

I may be as brown as a berry,

But that’s only secondary,

And you can’t tell the difference after dark.

I may not be so appealin’,

But I’ve got that certain feelin’,

That you can’t tell the difference after dark

They say that gendemen prefer the blonde haired ladies,

Tell me am I out ofstyle just because I’m slightly shady.

Wait until I’ve won you,

And my love drops down upon you,

You can’t tell the difference after dark.

CORA “LOVIE” AUSTIN AND

ALBERTA HUNTER

“Downhearted Blues”

Gee, but it’s hard to love someone

When that someone don’t love you.

I’m so disgusted, heartbroken, too

I’ve got those down-hearted blues.

Once I was crazy about a man,

He mistreated me all the time.

The next man I get has got to promise me 

To be mine, all mine.

My man mistreated me, and he drove me from his door,

But the good book says, you reap just what you sow.

I ain’t never loved but three men in my life,

My Father, my brother and the man who wrecked my life.

I walked the floor, wrung my hands and cried,

Had the downhearted blues, and I couldn’t be satisfied.

16

Trouble, trouble I’ve had it all my days,

It seems that trouble’s gonna follow me to my grave.

It may be a week, it may be a month or two,

But all the dirt you did to me, it’s sure coming home to you.

I got the world in a jug, the stopper, here in my hand,

And the next man that gets me, has got to come under my command.

BILLIE HOLIDAY, R. CONWAY, BASIL G. ALBA, AND SONNY WHITE

“Our Love is Different”

Our love is different, dear,

It’s like a mighty symphony,

I can feel its silver harmony,

Oh so tenderly, day by day.

Our love is different dear,

To me it’s almost heavenly,

Let us guard it ever preciously,

Even jealously, while we may.

A love like ours, dear heart,

The angels send,

And so I know, dear heart,

That it won’t ever end.

For as the years roll by,

You’ll learn my love tor you is true,

And I’m sure I’ll learn the same from you,

For our love is different dear.
NINA SIMONE AND He forced my mother late one night

WELDON JONATHAN IRVINE JR. What do they call me “Revolution” My name is SAFFRONIA

And now we gota revolution, My name is Saffronia.

CauseI see the face ofthings to come.

Yeah, our Constitution My skin is tan

Well, my friends, its gonna have to bend. My hair is fine I’m here to tell you about destruction My hips invite you

Of all the evil that will have to end. My mouth like wine

Whose little girl amI

Some folks are gonna get the notion, Anyone who has money to buy I know they’ll say I’m preachin’ hate. What do they call me

But itI have to swim the ocean, My name is SWEET THING

Well,I would just communicate. My name is Sweet Thing.

It’s not as simple as talkin’ jive,

The daily struggle just to stay alive. My skin is brown

My manner is tough

Singin’ about

a revolution,

I’ll kill the first motherI see

Because we’re talkin’ abouta change. my life has been too rough

It’s more than just evolution

I’m awfully bitter these days

Well, you know we’ve got to clean our brains. Because my parents were slaves

The only way that we can stand in fact What do they call me

Is when you get your foot off my back. My name is...

NINA SIMONE

“Four Women”

My skin is black

My arms are long

My hair is wooly

My back is strong

Strong enough to take the pain

Inflicted again and again

What do they call me

My name is AUNT SARAH

My name is Aunt Sarah.

My skin is yellow

My hair is long

Between two worlds I do belong

My father was rich and white

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