black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

I play piano, by ear. Yes, I write songs and good ones.

Nina Simone

Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.
NINA SIMONE

Breathe Children Life Music Myself
You can’t help it. An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.
NINA SIMONE

Artist Help Reflection Time
If I get an idea I put it on tape and somebody else writes it out.
NINA SIMONE

Ideas Myself Writing
My singing, if you want to call it that is merely another medium of expression. Just an instrument I play. That’s how I see my voice.
NINA SIMONE

Call Expression Instrument Myself See Singing Voice
Tomorrow, I might be in a different mood and you wouldn’t recognize my voice.
NINA SIMONE

Different Identity Myself Recognition Voice
I try to swim every damn day I can, and I’ve learned to scuba dive and snorkel.
NINA SIMONE

Day Learning Myself
I believe in racial memory too. I’m sure I’ve got ancient African blood in me that has something to do with what I am.
NINA SIMONE

Blood Identity Memories Myself Race
How do you explain what it feels like to get on the stage and make poetry that you know sinks into the hearts and souls of people who are unable to express it.
NINA SIMONE

Explanation Expression Feeling Poetry Soul Stage Yourself
I have a cultured manner of speaking.
NINA SIMONE

Culture Myself Speak
You have to learn to get up from the table when love is not being served.
NINA SIMONE

Learning Love Serve Table Yourself
What kept me sane was knowing that things would change, and it was a question of keeping myself together until they did.
NINA SIMONE

Change Known Question Sanity Togetherness
We have ordered things so long in a certain way, we are numb. Nobody dares question it. This is what is wrong, symbolically, with America.
NINA SIMONE

Dare Order Question Symbol Wrong
Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.
NINA SIMONE

Black Definition Myself People
I tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.
NINA SIMONE

Fear Freedom Myself
I know I’m different, but I don’t think about it.
NINA SIMONE

Different Myself Thinking
Since I was three I’ve been playing the piano. I’ve been onstage.
NINA SIMONE

Instrument Myself Play

I play piano, by ear. Yes, I write songs and good ones.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

I play piano, by ear. Yes, I write songs and good ones.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Nina Simone Quotes