Nina Simone: Pirate Jenny

#piratejenny #ninasimone
"Pirate Jenny" performed by ‪@NinaSimoneMusic‬
Recording session: Live, July 2, 1992 International Jazz Festival in Montreal

[@maddymiller2646]

You're missing the point. If Nina Simone wants to sing something beautiful, she knows how. Therefore there's a point to this song beyond its aesthetic value.

[@JamesLivesInBuffalo]

It's Brecht after all.

[@musclebox1]

This interpretation of the song is spot on. Only one thing... Brecht's Three Penny Opera isn't set in Germany, as Nina Simone claims at 0:27, but in 1920s London.

[@buckjohnson3748]

Actually 1830s london

[@FreemonSandlewould]

Egad. Xout.

[@yaseminguven64]

Are *you* joking? Have you heard her other recordings? This really doesn't have the impact of the other recordings. There's no colour to this performance, she's just hollering, yelling, she sounds disinterested, little pathos. She's a GENIUS, but this was an off performance.

[@draganadc]

And you know why? Because it is obvious that it only wide dream that will never come through, that s because the voice is "flat" and "disinterested",,,genious...!

[@mastercng]

I dislike this version. Her intonation is alien af

[@Koszika]

i think that is the idea, it builds a grotesque quality to it

[@arseniccatnip1348]

Entonation

[@rl6383]

Le vienee estupendamente a la letra

[@Daniel_Bettega_52]

You people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell In this crummy Southern town In this crummy old hotel But you'll never guess to who you're talkin'. No. You couldn't ever guess to who you're talkin'. Then one night there's a scream in the night And you'll wonder who could that have been And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin' And you say, "What's she got to grin?" I'll tell you. There's a ship The Black Freighter With a skull on its masthead Will be coming in You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors! Get upstairs! What's wrong with you! Earn your keep here! You toss me your tips And look out to the ships But I'm counting your heads As I'm making the beds Cuz there's nobody gonna sleep here, honey Nobody Nobody! Then one night there's a scream in the night And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?" And ya see me kinda starin' out the winda And you say, "What's she got to stare at now?" I'll tell ya. There's a ship The Black Freighter Turns around in the harbor Shootin' guns from her bow Now You gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face Cause every building in town is a flat one This whole frickin' place will be down to the ground Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?" Yes. That's what you say. "Why do they spare that one?" All the night through, through the noise and to-do You wonder who is that person that lives up there? And you see me stepping out in the morning Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair And the ship The Black Freighter Runs a flag up its masthead And a cheer rings the air By noontime the dock Is a-swarmin' with men Comin' out from the ghostly freighter They move in the shadows Where no one can see And they're chainin' up people And they're bringin' em to me Askin' me, "Kill them NOW, or LATER?" Askin' ME! "Kill them now, or later?" Noon by the clock And so still by the dock You can hear a foghorn miles away And in that quiet of death I'll say, "Right now. Right now!" Then they'll pile up the bodies And I'll say, "That'll learn ya!" And the ship The Black Freighter Disappears out to sea And On It Is Me

[@Wolfhoundersful]

You people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell In this crummy Southern town In this crummy old hotel But you'll never guess to who you're talkin'. No. You couldn't ever guess to who you're talkin'. Then one night there's a scream in the night And you'll wonder who could that have been And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin' And you say, “What's she got to grin?" I'll tell you. There's a ship The Black Freighter With a skull on its masthead Will be coming in You gentlemen can say, “Hey gal, finish them floors! Get upstairs! What's wrong with you! Earn your keep here! You toss me your tips And look out to the ships But I'm counting your heads As I'm making the beds Cuz there's nobody gonna sleep here, Tonight, nobodys gonna sleep here, honey Nobody Nobody! Then one night there's a scream in the night And you say, “Who's that kicking up a row?” And ya see me kinda starin' out the winda And you say, “What's she got to stare at now?” I'll tell ya. There's a ship The Black Freighter Turns around in the harbor Shootin' guns from her bow Now you gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face Cause every building in town is a flat one This whole frickin' place will be down to the ground Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?" Yes. That's what you say. "Why do they spare that one?" All the night through, through the noise and to-do You wonder who is that person that lives up there? And you see me stepping out in the morning Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair And the ship The Black Freighter Runs a flag up its masthead And a cheer rings the air By noontime the dock Is a-swarmin' with men Comin' out from the ghostly freighter They move in the shadows Where no one can see And they're chainin' up people And they're bringin' em to me Askin' me, "Kill them now, or later?" Askin' me, "Kill them now, or later?" Noon by the clock And so still at the dock You can hear a foghorn miles away And in that quiet of death I'll say, "Right now. Right now!" Then they pile up the bodies And I'll say, "That'll learn ya!" And the ship The Black Freighter Disappears out to sea And on it is me

[@andrewgebert]

I love the comments insisting that a woman, a central element of whose persona was about being beyond giving a f-ck, singing a song about a woman way beyond giving a f-ck, should sing more pretty and be more entertaining for us "gentlemen." Lol.

[@mr.blonde5344]

Song definitely isn't for them.

[@mr.blonde5344]

This woman's music is timeless.

[@FiddleCat999]

Same guys that tell you "you'd be prettier if you smiled". They don't get it. They can't get it. And they are not "gentlemen". Her interpretation and performance of this piece is genius.

[@machoke666]

Why are people saying that this isn't beautiful? It's mesmerizingly beautiful

[@9outof10]

When Nina Simone sings this it's infused with the anger of the Civil Rights movement. Gives it a whole other level.

[@thomashadleigh2575]

She's perfect for this song. Just gruesome, how it's meant to be. Yes, this is how it was meant to be.

[@davidpenn1123]

"Cause I'm counting your heads as I'm making the beds ..."

[@marieblue]

This haunting number originated as a song from the first act of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s 1928 musical “The Threepenny Opera” (1933). Many acclaimed artists have covered “Pirate Jenny”, but singer and activist Nina Simone’s version might be the most famous one. She gave the piece a civil rights undertone. Simone claimed that she once performed the oeuvre in concert with such intensity that it took her “five years to recover.” 💚🎼💙 May you rest in peace, Eunice Kathleen Waymon, a.k.a. Nina Simone (1933 - 2003)… 🌹

[@mr.blonde5344]

Very interesting.

[@1sabineMai]

How many famous singers did sing this song without understanding NOTHING of it? e.g. Esther Ofarim - sung nicely, but totally misunderstood.

[@marieblue]

This haunting number originated as a song from the first act of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s 1928 musical “The Threepenny Opera” about a prostitute who has been bribed to turn her former lover Macheath (a.k.a. Mack the Knife) in to the police. As she contemplates having his fate in her hands, a pirate ship (the “black freighter”), which she has been expecting, enters the harbor. After its cannons flatten every building except hers, Jenny sails away with the pirates. Among the numerous notable artists who have covered this, Steeleye Span, Ute Lemper and Judy Collins. But Nina Simone’s version (1964) might well be the best of the best. She gave the piece a civil rights undertone, with the “black freighter” a metaphor for the coming black revolution. Nina Simone jokingly claimed that she once interpreted “Pirate Jenny” in concert with such intensity that it took her “five years to recover”❕ 💚🏴‍☠️💙 Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed will you remain, Eunice Kathleen Waymon, a.k.a. Nina Simone (1933 - 2003)… 🌹

[@DoodleBugLisa]

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

[@nele1857]

The prostitute is the other jenny... there are three

[@edgar0001]

As a great well educated human Nina Simone did not get caught in the trap of making a beautiful song out of this deathly phantasies of a killer maid who is surviving their badly exploited working situation by her killer phantasies. nina knows what Brecht's Epic theatre means and requires ! Check it at wikipedia! Many "famous singers" destructed this song by singing it as beautiful songs, ignoring the killer phantasies of this maid. THAT IS WHY NINA sings this song "so badly". You missed your chance to think about it!

[@nsajko1]

+E Kam I am not disagreeing with you but she seems to have sung this so badly because she was overwhelmed by emotion at moments and couldn't control herself?

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

The song isn't meant to be pretty. It's about a woman getting back at all those who have abused and oppressed her.

[@greenearthblueskies8556]

Hell Yeah!!!!!

[@fercrishart]

Brilliant Comment, thank you. "good and bad I define these terms, quite clear no doubt somehow, ah but I was so much older than, I'm younger than that now"

[@filipp721]

You are absolutely incorrect! The 1932 recording with the original cast with weil and brecht in the studio, this aria sung by Lenya Lotte was sung with such simplicity to the point it brings you to tears, and if you doubt the people that wrote the play then go write a masterpiece of your own and see if anyone likes it...

[@MrScopophiliac]

the very best interpretation other than lotte lenya in the original film version

[@rudeboyjohn3483]

Perfect tone and delivery of this story.

[@ddizaca]

You people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell In this crummy Southern town In this crummy old hotel But you'll never guess to who you're talkin'. No. You couldn't ever guess to who you're talkin'. Then one night there's a scream in the night And you'll wonder who could that have been And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin' And you say, "What's she got to grin?" I'll tell you. There's a ship The Black Freighter With a skull on its masthead Will be coming in You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors! Get upstairs! What's wrong with you! Earn your keep here! You toss me your tips And look out to the ships But I'm counting your heads As I'm making the beds Cuz there's nobody gonna sleep here, honey Nobody Nobody! Then one night there's a scream in the night And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?" And ya see me kinda starin' out the winda And you say, "What's she got to stare at now?" I'll tell ya. There's a ship The Black Freighter Turns around in the harbor Shootin' guns from her bow Now You gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face Cause every building in town is a flat one This whole frickin' place will be down to the ground Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?" Yes. That's what you say. "Why do they spare that one?" All the night through, through the noise and to-do You wonder who is that person that lives up there? And you see me stepping out in the morning Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair And the ship The Black Freighter Runs a flag up its masthead And a cheer rings the air By noontime the dock Is a-swarmin' with men Comin' out from the ghostly freighter They move in the shadows Where no one can see And they're chainin' up people And they're bringin' em to me Askin' me, "Kill them NOW, or LATER?" Askin' ME! "Kill them now, or later?" Noon by the clock And so still by the dock You can hear a foghorn miles away And in that quiet of death I'll say, "Right now. Right now!" Then they'll pile up the bodies And I'll say, "That'll learn ya!" And the ship The Black Freighter Disappears out to sea And On It Is Me

[@findegorgorito]

Most people never understood Brecht, so there is no reason why most commenting people would understand Nina Simone and would rather hear a version of Pirate Jenny performed by Nouvelle Vague making yet another one of those appalling verstructions of Genius. :-D

[@MatT3431433]

I'd prefer an easy listening Nouvelle Vague version most of the time.

[@findegorgorito]

I don't like hanging around in elevators!

[@MatT3431433]

findegorgorito ha ha good example ;-) Climbing the stairs MIGHT be good for health & fitness, but mostly its easier to ascend via lift

[@lncompetentGaming]

This is an amazing version of Pirate Jenny.

[@waldolydecker8118]

It truly is....extraordinary.

[@RonRicho]

I'm speechless. Nina Simone performing Pirate Jenny from Threepenny Opera (Mack the Knife)

[@georgelaing2578]

I was with two friends at Carnegie Hall in (I think) 1964 when Nina Simone sang this piece as part of her concert. It is one of my most precious memories.

[@redgenerall28]

Not going to lie. HBO's Watchmen brought me here.

[@saojoaoparaiso943]

Pirate Jenny!

[@sjboxoffice]

I die listening to this song more than 100 times, so far- let me die again..

[@saojoaoparaiso943]

Love Nina Simone for this masterpiece but HBO Watchmen's Pirate Jenny's dreamy eyes brought me here!

[@soukybird9274]

Feels like she’s telling a horror story that’s so bad it’s gooooddd and it gives me this weird anxiety at times. From time to time I’ve had dark thoughts towards some people ✌🏼 May this comment not be used against me in the future 😂👏🏼

[@thisgirlshair]

Souky Bird you know it will! Lol! Even if you don't do anything bad. In a Supreme Court confirmation ? If they could have found this on Ketanji Brown Jackson they would have used it!

[@soukybird9274]

@@thisgirlshair ur 100% right ffs

[@perrycowdery]

the most metal thing ive ever seen *haunting shout out to percussionist at 4:44 for being hella brechtian, because why would dock sounds be in tempo?

[@barkolito1259]

Eine supertolle Version von Nina. Ich kenne fast alle - diese ist besonders!

[@inappropriatespoon]

I think the term 'gentlemen' is used sarcastically because she's mocking the men around her :3

[@carl1982]

Alguien que hable español, yo aquí escuchando una obra de arte :D

[@POET444]

the best version i ever heard of pirate jenny.....thank you for upload

[@christinadevlin137]

The recording of this from the Carnegie Hall performance is my favorite live vocal performance of all time. If anyone has video of that, I’d love to see it. This rendition is VERY different. Nina Simone was a genius.

[@piratoje]

wow, i'm impressed. Very interesting version.

[@hannureittu4310]

original piece from Die Dreigroschen Oper (Weill/Brecht/ Gay), 1927, english arrangement Marc Blitzstein in 1950's

[@TheFourteenthWard]

Are you joking? This is perfect!

[@annkoell4376]

To all women which never bow to anyone!

[@filmcrew1551]

Oh, this has a wonderful quality too. I love it. But surely, she is tired here. Tired here, tried here, teared and turned and torned and tromped and trivilated and tripilized and trumped but so tribulated, nice to hear. So intriguing.

[@hernanrubindearmas5640]

Please, read E. Kam. I indeed aplaude her. As I aplaude Nina. Great Nina. The greatest voice of the sixties.

[@lowceiling]

why is the vibes player so sweaty lol

[@cassandraconnell2513]

This song is full of power. My favourite versions is Bea Arthur’s, and this one.

[@SisterIndica]

YES! I love Bea's version so much!

[@littleelsa323]

This version is every female rapper EVER! #swagswag

[@kolnidrei4623]

Evidement, elle est à sa plus belle, toujours ... ever ...

[@danicasttro]

Creepy song (in a really good way)

[@TellMeCupe]

thanks watchmen, i discoer this in 2020

[@arabena19]

Pure Art

[@sixstringmarauder]

A dark song with a dark message of redemption

[@rolanddepous2148]

NINA SIMONE AND HILDEGARD KNEF NR. 1 MERCI GRAZIE THANKS DANKE WUNDERBAR

[@gstavella]

Chills.

[@rl6383]

Uuuaaaaauuuu qué pasada!!!!!

[@barkolito1259]

tolle interpretation von nina. Und die kameraführung ist auch klasse!

[@topschlager7856]

Eine der besten Versionen dieses Songs ! Wenn nicht gar DIE beste!

[@kolnidrei4623]

She is a Great Dame

[@aikanae1]

I loved her 1968 version.

[@fernly2]

Hope I can find it. In 1956 I listened to her sing over and over on records

[@tron2007]

🤣

[@johnjensen9391]

Irony?

[@renehalm7318]

Incroyable interprète, mais qui en doutait

[@safacon]

Gentlemen is a social status, not literally "Gentle Men"...

[@MisterGordonZola]

We do live in a society.

[@doughnuteater]

RIP Ms Nina Simone

[@fliprim]

Just fantastic. Chilling, thrilling. Barbed.

[@djacidkingcidguerreiro9780]

Sublime

[@sheffieldpatrolgroup5195]

A fabulous version. Nina Simone recognises that Brecht and Weill numbers were designed to be declaimed without concern for style or art world sanctioned aesthetic appeal, rather than warbled by flouncy actors like Ute Lemper or bought and paid for mainstreamed merchants such as Lotte Lenya.

[@soulschwester]

The song was written for Lotte Lenya - the wife of Weil - the composer.

[@jillkobeissi3103]

Lotte Kenya was Kurt Weill's wife

[@tonycanabal1659]

Miss Lotte sang the song with the same rawness,she originated it after all.

[@BeniBalak]

no words

[@pauleliot6429]

check shilpa ray's version with nick cave

[@detroitrichards3367]

Perfection. Bravo!

[@fflubadubb]

I like Judy Collins version.

[@gkmannheim]

Nina weiss wovon Sie singt. Punkt.

[@steve1978ger]

That'll learn ya!

[@mikmcd2075]

cold stuff, Nina....

[@YeikobSegura]

Watchmen

[@piahenkel4974]

p.henkel

[@maureenwagg5305]

wow powerful

[@tonywashere234]

gettin it

[@jinelgoodman669]

💌🎶🔥🔥🔥❤🙏🌹👍

[@nbc5023]

Yeah, but what are "gentlemen" (usually a term for upper class men) doing staying at a flophouse which traditionally was a place where beggars and impoverished workers stayed.

[@Pr3tty_daii]

Well I don't wanna sound rude, but have you listened to her other recordings from this point in her life? She was very old and sickly around this time and from an interview I watched she was only performing later in life because people wanted her to (i.e money) I think once you realize that this is just how her voice aged you can find a better appreciation for these later performances. I personally loved her performance of I put a spell on you and My Way from this period in her life.

[@tonyclifton265]

Lotte Lenya in the original german is incomparably better

[@w.n.j.4258]

Tou can put a translation for a portuguese BR, please???

[@thisgirlshair]

translate.google.com/

[@danielmateos2377]

Fabuloso

[@barkolito1259]

I like it. Nina is great.

[@brunhilde_ru]

Ох, какая же классная!

[@star8881]

They can't tell how old she is in this video because we age so well. ^_-

[@uztre6789]

Actually the play takes place in London.

[@eusematico]

1:30 Autotune

[@nbc5023]

I have heard this song many times before, but I wonder why would "gentlemen" be staying at a flophouse.

[@mfinley98]

She is scrubbing stains from a whorehouse floors. The gentlemen are customers.

[@stanochocki8984]

A so-so, interpretation...might have been a 'fit' in the movie, " The Color Purple". But here...Ms Simone would have bee more effective had she tuck to the score.....

[@Leorgo]

i love nina simone but im sorry.. this performance is horrible. sounds like she's doing karaoke to her own song..

[@claudiocruzat8777]

Man voice..

[@suzannebeatty4648]

This is horrible, not the Nina I know and love . It's pretentious and self-indulgent. What is the point???😣😣😣😣😣😣

[@easytosay9805]

What do you mean?

[@cominroitover80]

she looks a bit like Gucci mane lol

[@fabian5002]

I love this song, but if I saw a black woman in 2013 singing like this I'd be like "You suck". Not her best performance.

[@cominroitover80]

fabian5002 yeah she seems pretty tired here.

[@zsoltmadar7490]

Is she or he?

[@bathroomsexmurder]

This is how the song is supposed to be sung. It has a very specific inflection.