I'm Going Back Home

Nina Simone · High Priestess Of Soul [2006]

I'm going back home where I was born



First I planned to stay but I can't live this way



I'm going back home where I was born



Try to understand, I think this city's grand



But with all it's charm give me a little country farm



I'm going back home where I was born



Oh yeah, now, oh yeah, oh yeah, now, oh yeah



I tell you all about it, I think you ought to know



Tell you all about it, why I wanna go



I miss the country preacher and the house of prayer



I miss the bootlegger smellin' in the air



Miss friendly faces and the country smiles



The crickets singing, you can hear it for miles



I miss the rooster crowing at the break of dawn



Yes, it all happens where I was born



Miss the fried chicken, colored greens



Miss the hot biscuits and the lima beans



Miss the prayer meetings where people pray



With the drum beating till the break of day



You can have it, you can have it



You can have it, you can have it



You can have thy town, I won't be around



This here life's too fast but'll never, never last



I'm going back home where I was born



I got to go home, got to go home



Where the people are real, people can feel



Got to go down, got to go down



Leavin' today on my way, so long, so long



Going back home, going back home



Got to go home, got to go home



Got to go home, got to go home



Where I, where I was born

I'm Going Back Home

Nina Simone's 'I'm Going Back Home' stands as a poignant example of her mastery over the jazz and blues genres. Recorded for the 2006 compilation 'High Priestess Of Soul', the track showcases her signature vocal style, blending emotional depth with rhythmic sophistication. The song reflects themes of introspection and return, characteristic of Simone's broader body of work which often addressed personal and social struggles. As a staple of her discography, the recording captures the essence of her live performances and studio recordings alike, cementing her legacy as a pivotal figure in American music history. The piece remains a powerful testament to her ability to convey complex narratives through melody and voice.