Nina Simone - If He Changed My Name Lyrics

Not gonna lie. I heard this song in a porno. Pretty good 👌

Well done, Nina.

Jesus was

Sometimes you gotta go with the flow.....! 😋😎🤗

NOT ABOUT SLAVES! Nina was a very masculine unattractive woman with marital issues...this is her poem about her feeling suicidal asking god to give her another life...in which he tells her that she would suffer if he was to reincarnate her...and at 2:21 her responding message was loud and clear😐...["i could never suffer more than i am now"]

She didn't write this song. It's an old spiritual, real old (at least a century and half again ago at the earliest)

Incantevole!

lovely...jus lovely!!

lovely...jus lovely!!

Powerful words

the black community fared much better when Christianity was strong

of course many meanings are possible, but it could be considered a metaphor of a person's name being added to the "Book of Life" as a new "saint" (meaning a person who has just been baptized). The belief was/is that a newly baptized person being a brand new person in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the church. The phrase "If He change my name" also probably most strongly alludes to how Saul's name was changed to Paul upon his conversion to Christianity....... "going hungry", "the world would hate me" probably refers to the persecution of the early Christians.

To me this song means regret and self hate wishing to be someone else and start over but it's just a name and you yourself wouldn't change so you would be lonely (I interpreted hungry as lonely)

Shanna Dechaine what I think about the interpretation is that when you refuse to dance to the tune of the world that is if you don't really do what amused and interest them or trying to stand on the hardline of the truth or telling it like it is they would not be favorable and deny you of your integrity . Nina is right

This song is in reference to your name being written in the 'book of life' after you have been baptized or born again.

I love how music can be interpreted in many ways. When I first listened to this song, I thought it was about a girl in doubt about being with a man (marrying him and letting him change her name, her last name). And she was talking with Jesus (God) about if it was okay marrying this guy. And that everyone would be against her decision cause she'd go hungry if she married him (as the guy has no money).

Maybe that kind of song is made this way, so everyone can relate to from a personal view.

My point of view is that the song talks about a person that hates herself so much to the point she asks Jesus to change her name and perhaps be somebody else; then he answers that, if she is struggling with something, it was meant to happen, and she is only able to be inside her own skin, so, if Jesus changed her name, she would go hungry because she cannot be anybody else but herself.

@Michael Kylow That's what I love about this song. The many ways it can be interpreted.

aquabarbie nawl girl

not religious but love this song... Nina's voice is so beautiful

It's about being changed from sinner to saint. About giving your life over to him.

greatest!!

it is a pitty
, even worst that I think

Canta com uma navalha e rasga meu peito... AMO.

an amazing song with deep lyric; I love it. Thank you so much for that song. 

thank you!

What if someone told Jesus he could change their name, but then he changed it to, like, 'Bonerbutts' or something?

How is this funny?

TheEndKing 😂

i believe this song is about slaves that were kidnapped and then forced to change their names, as shown in the movie '12 years'

It is about religion  too , maybe both . Both because she sings  & he told me you will be hungry if I change your name.  But maybe hungry in the sense to be hungry to the spirit & the word.  Like Saulus became Paulus, Because she also sings & the world will hate you. That is also written in the bibel. I hear that song the first time & I really adore it. 

I am more inclined to agree with your interpretation Giselle, in light of what we are seeing today with all the "judgement" on people who don't have an English (or other European names), also the slaves were given the names of their masters and dare anyone of them have the gall to change it (eg. Mohamed Ali).

Girl it’s about god lol just because it’s back in the day does not mean it has anything to do with slaves

It's about changing your name because the Lord made you a new person with a new mind.

NINA SIMONE 
"If He Changed My Name"
        ✝     †     ✝
I told Jesus it would be alright if He changed my name
I told Jesus it would be alright if He changed my name
I told Jesus it would be alright if He changed my name
And He told me that I would go hungry if He changed my name
And He told me that I would go hungry if He changed my name
And He told me that I would go hungry if He changed my name

But I told Jesus it would be alright if He changed my name
I told Jesus it would be alright if He changed my name
So I told Him it would be alright and the world would hate me
That I would go hungry if He changed my name

This song is performed on the live album At The Village Gate (1962).
Written by: MacGimsey

I did, in 1979, He did, and HalleluYahudha,I been completely changed,name Mercy,new naturr,talk n walk- halleluzYahuah,I am born again,each day new birth kife,thru Ruach HaKodesh,the Holy Ghost.HalleluYahuah I am not the same, ever since thar glorious dsy in may of 1979 i told Yahusha He could,please do change ny name.

schellstarr Amen

Thank you, Carol Manson!!!!!

If dude changed my name. I would hit him in the head.

dear opera,
in simple words such a deep sense -- and indeed : a great recording, wonderful sung by a wonderful woman, singer, artist, the great Nina.best wishes

word yo

this is a beautiful performance of a beautiful song

u are the only one who knew...

Sherrill: change her name to something else; she does not want to be herself.

Be nice. God doesn't need our help to set people straight. On judgement day, you be ready. On that day each person will have to answer for him or herself. Look in the mirror--I am. It's time to get ready and stay ready. If you want to know how to get ready, the bible says, "seek and you will find." I believe in a God who can show you the way, if you ask--if you REALLY want to know.

You should refuse everything associate with Americans. Let's start with the internet, so we ignorant Americans won't have to be bothered with your ignorance. Americans share ignorance with the rest of the world. You know, all those great countries around the world who DO NOT kill, rape, steal, cheat, fight, gossip, deceive, abandon, etc,...each other. Wait a minute, there are none. They are ALL ignorant. All are filled with ignorant people! You nor I are any exception.

No one is portraying Jesus as the powerful son of god. Jesus Himself said he was the son I God. I chose to believe him. You are free not too. There is a bible that you can read for yourself if the Catholic church is trying to control your mind. Be careful that you don't allow the powerful media, entertainers, politicians and plain ole crazy folks control your mind.

Who cares. Don't believe. You are free to make your choices just like I am. I do believe. I don't care if you don't. Simone is singing a Christian song. Her background is in the church and Christian. On That Great Day you can give your opinion to God Almighty. You will be free to say, "I decided not to believe". There is no argument. No one has to prove anything to you.

ignorance is the greatest evil, moron gaschambers ? this time i will get you in first

If He Changed My Name - metaphysical meaning is change your awareness and elevate your consciousness to a higher level of being (being at One with Spirit).When you grow into a higher level of being many times you have to leave old thoughts, believes, patterns and people behind. Your name is: "Powerful!" "Amazing!" "Child of God", "Love!" and so on.

Carol Manson Music Carol Manson Music, what most of these ignorant White people don't know is that this is a Negro Spiritual. Nina didn't even write it. She paying tribute to her ancestors but ppl are clueless. And this song is pregnant with meaning. The African accepted Christianity, even the White Man's name, and experienced the greatest hell this earth has ever seen. But we accepted and it's alright. Jesus is worth going through all the pain, suffering, lynching, whipping, segregation, judicial injustice this society has inflicted on the Black Man.... Powerful!

@Michelle Clarke Rather than call the " white man" ignorant with such racist hate in your posting why don't you enlighten through the LOVE OF GOD??
Yes, these " spirituals " were born out of pain & injustice that has never been righted..BUT, in the eyes of the One TRUE GOD...we are all born in HIS IMAGE! What's that though?? SPIRIT...SPIRITUALS...
In the Bible Jesus ( God) Yeshua Messiach, changed many ppls. names. While it's a metaphysical thing it's actually a beautiful personal & very REAL thing when He changes your name as we submit & surrender our lives to Him. Even He alone has too many namess to list here.
Yes, it's Nina... It's God..It's beautiful! I give Him glory for all of that in Jesus's name! Wether you choose to enlighten with love or hate depends on how you're msg. is being received. We are Sisters in the Lord...let's be an example of light..and energy...like God!

@Carol Manson Music

You're American? Oh, that explains your ignorance

what do you mean who really sang it? It's a "Negro" Spiritual. It's a very old song. Nina Simone is doing a "cover" the same way Jennifer Bynum (hustle and flow) did.

Sure maybe he existed but, I think they used a servant of the king and said he was a normal civilian with powers to make the people easier to control with a new religion

im not argueing that religion is bullshit but carbon dating and historical documents are leading them to believe that it is "Jesus" I will be the first to admit that the roman catholic church is simply mind control for the masses and a good 98 percent of it is bullshit however i personally believe that jesus once existed although hes not the all powerful son of god everyone wants to portray him as

They cant prove its Jesus, only that it was a tomb, assuming to be jesus, and even if he walked on this earth I still dont believe he had (in other words) magic powers. Its all is just made up so the big kingdoms had it easier to control their people, religion is a tool for power my friend (sorry for my bbad english im a swede)

this my friend is where you're wrong scientists have recently discovered the tomb and crucifiction site of jesus,,,he was alive wether or not he's the son of god i'll let you decide but its proven that he once walked the earth

Jesus Christ IS INDEED The Son Of GOD. LOVE HIM!

@Oldoldwoman Well jesus doesn't exist so you're prob mentally sick if u hear his voice

I love this song. Karen Gordon of Garden City Jazz sung this at my dad's, Tommie W. Gulley, Jr., funeral in Augusta, GA and it was so beautiful. I have loved this song and the meaning to those who love The Lord since hearing it for the first time during our dad home going service. Thanks again Karen.

Magnificent song and metaphor!

@Shiftee88 Call me delusional :) I LOVE believing in God...

@LOVELOONproductions if you download realplayer when you play these vids you will get a "download this video)" prompt (at the top right of the video window). Click that to download. In the realplayer download window there is a "convert" button. Need help just ask :)

Even though i think religion is for delusional people i still like this song.

sounds like what happens when the black muslims change their name to muhammad..hmmm

Faith in jesus will get anyone through their darkest hour.......

the Marion Anderson version of this spiritual is extremely powerful and beautiful

Wow! Beautiful!

Nina is Nina. Beautiful...

spine chillingly beautiful...

if you could put up a link for us to download this please, please do.

So glad to have met this soulful woman who resembled my mother in more ways than one....Rest her soul.

don't forget these songs were also code songs for slave communication to distract the slave/field master. dual meanings sometimes three and four different meanings too bad we don't have the total written 1st voice historical account for this genre of songs

that song was always stuck in my head after i saw that hustle and flow movie and i wanted 2 know who really sang it

wooooww ,, im fuckt ,,

brilliant