A Little Nina Simone

I first heard this song a few months ago whilst watching The Dancer Upstairs, a sad and wonderful film directed by John Malkovich. The song is called “Who Knows Where the Time Goes,” written by Sandy Denny and performed by Nina Simone.

This is from a live session recorded Oct. 26, 1969, at Philharmonic Hall, New York, according to The Nina Simone Web.

The song is so beautiful, it hurts.

Introduction by Nina Simone

We are recording tonight and because we are recording we’re trying to do some things that actually I’m too tired to do. But as Faye Dunaway, I think it was, she said, when Bonnie and Clyde came out, she said she tried to give people what they wanted. That’s a mistake, really, I know. You can’t do it ... you use up everything you’ve got trying to give everybody what they want.

But I will learn my lesson soon, and then you will buy more records, right, ’cause you’re gonna see me.

Let’s see what we can do with this lovely, lovely thing that goes past all racial conflict and all kinds of conflict, it is a reflective tune. And sometime in your life, you will have occasion to say, what is this thing called time? You know what, what is that? The clock, you go to work by the clock, you get your martini in the afternoon by the clock, you have your coffee by the clock, you have to get on a plane at a certain time, and arrive at a certain ... and it goes on and on and on. And time is a dictator, as we know it. Where does it go? What does it do? Most of all, is it alive? Is it a thing that we cannot touch and is alive? And then one day you look in the mirror, how old, and you say, where did the time go?

We leave you with that one ...

Who Knows Where the Time Goes

Across the morning sky
All the birds are leavin’
How can they know
When it’s time to go
Before the winter fires
Will still be dreaming
I do not count the time
Who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore
Your fickle friends are leavin’
Oh, but then you know
When it’s time for them to go
But I will still be here
I have no thoughts of leavin’
For I do not count the time
Who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

But I am not alone
As long as my love is near me
And I know it will be so
’Til it’s time to go
All through the winter
Until the birds again return in spring
I do not fear time
Who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

— Nina Simone (Written by Sandy Denny)