To be young
Gifted, and black
Oh, what a lovely precious thing
Oh, when you're, yes, yes, when you're
When you're young, yeah, thank you, Jesus, gifted and black
Open your heart, is all I need

In this whole world, you know
There are millions of boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black
With their souls intact, and that's a fact

You are young, gifted and black, we must begin to tell our young
There's a world waiting for you (you) yours is the quest that's just begun

When you feelin' real low
Here's a great truth you should remember and know
That you're young, gifted, and black
You got your soul intact, oh, and that's a fact

(You're young, gifted, and black)
Oh, it's a mighty sweet thing, yes, it is now
(Young, gifted, and black)
Oh, my sisters
(Young, gifted, and black)
You're young and you're black, you got your soul intact
You got the future, don't you know it's a fact?
(Young, gifted, and black)

Copyright: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Writer(s): Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine