In remembrance of Nina Simone’s birthday, here’s a clip of a live 1968 recording session in Paris performing ‘ The Other Woman’, one of my favorite songs from her vast catalog of treasures. With lyrics:
But the other woman will always cry herself to sleep
The other woman will never have his love to keep
And as the years go by the other woman
Will spend her life alone
Alone
Alone
how can you not love this song, then again, how can’t your heart not break for ‘the other woman’ in this scenario? Devoid of any self-worth, this poor woman puts all her validation in the presence of this borrowed man as without him she ceases to breathe or even exist. Loves such as these, although toxic + one-sided, as the man is getting the better end of their arrangement, make for great songs of heartache, especially with Nina’s velvety voice, kindly whispering her lyrics into this ‘other woman’s’ ears as a guardian angel, hoping she takes heed of this poison + walks away, but the grip of her love for this man is by far stronger.
Enjoy!
Happy Birthday, Nina!