Great footage of legendary Nina Simone at the historical 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival that took place in Marcus Garvey Park during the summer, only months apart from the inaugural Woodstock concert.
The “Ain’t Got No (I Got Life)” lyrics:
Ain’t got no money, ain’t got no class
Ain’t got no skirts, ain’t got no sweater
Ain’t got no perfume, ain’t got no bed
Ain’t got no mind
Ain’t got no mother, ain’t got no culture
Ain’t got no friends, ain’t got no schooling
Ain’t got no love, ain’t got no name
Ain’t got no ticket, ain’t got no token
Ain’t got no God
And what have I got?
Why am I alive anyway?
Yeah, what have I got
Nobody can take away?
Got my hair, got my head
Got my brains, got my ears
Got my eyes, got my nose
Got my mouth, I got my smile
I got my tongue, got my chin
Got my neck, got my boobs
Got my heart, got my soul
Got my back, I got my sex
I got my arms, got my hands
Got my fingers, got my legs
Got my feet, got my toes
Got my liver, got my blood
I’ve got life, I’ve got my freedom
I’ve got the life
I’ve got the life
And I’m gonna keep it
I’ve got the life
And nobody’s gonna take it away
I’ve got the life
Known as the Black Woodstock, artists like Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, B.B. King, The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and many more performed in the park’s amphitheater.
Check out this live clip from Ms. Simone outstanding performance in Harlem:
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