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Donny Hathaway - To Be Young, Gifted and Black (original)
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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Electric Piano
Clifford Davis
Clifford Davis
Alto Saxophone
John Littlejohn
John Littlejohn
Guitar
The Vashonettes
The Vashonettes
Background Vocals
Willie Henderson
Willie Henderson
Saxophone
Louis Satterfield
Louis Satterfield
Bass
Morris Jennings
Morris Jennings
Drums
Philip Upchurch
Philip Upchurch
Guitar
Ric Powell
Ric Powell
Percussion
Johnny Board
Johnny Board
Tenor Saxophone
Lenard S. Druss
Lenard S. Druss
Tenor Saxophone
John Avant
John Avant
Trombone
Morris Ellis
Morris Ellis
Trombone
John Howell
John Howell
Trumpet
Oscar Brashear
Oscar Brashear
Trumpet
Aaron Dodd
Aaron Dodd
Tuba
Cyril Touff
Cyril Touff
Trumpet
Donald Myrick
Donald Myrick
Alto Saxophone
Gary Slavo
Gary Slavo
Trumpet
John Lounsberry
John Lounsberry
French Horn
Robert A Lewis
Robert A Lewis
Trumpet
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Songwriter
Weldon Irvine
Weldon Irvine
Songwriter
Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Producer
Ric Powell
Ric Powell
Producer
Murray, Allen
Murray, Allen
Recording Engineer
Roger Anfinsen
Roger Anfinsen
Recording Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
To be young, gifted and black
Oh, what a lovely, precious dream
To be young, gifted and black
Open your heart to what I mean
[Verse 2]
'Cause you know in this whole wide world
There's a million, a million boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black
That's a fact, oh, yes, it is
[Verse 3]
To be young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
Don't you know that there's a whole world
A whole world waiting for you?
Haven't you heard the quest has just begun?
[Verse 4]
Don't you know that the joy, the joy
The joy of the day?
There's a day that we all
That we all be proud to say
That we were young, gifted, gifted and black
And it's sure 'nough where it's at
[Verse 5]
Oh, yeah
Do you believe it?
I said, it's sure enough where it's at
Oh, yeah
Can I get someone  help me say it's sure 'nough
(It's where it's at)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Do you know it's sure 'nough?
Oh, yeah (It's where it's at)
I ain't tryna bring down nobody else
But I know it's sure' nough
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah (It's where it's at)
I don't think you believe me
Yeah, yeah, yeah (It's where it's at)
Can I say it again?
Yeah, yeah, yeah (It's where it's at)
That's all
Yeah
Written by: Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine

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