About the Song
Before The Animals turned it into a gritty rock anthem and Elvis made it swing, this tune belonged to Nina Simone — and she made it ache. Her 1964 version is equal parts confession and rebellion, delivered with that calm-volcano intensity she could summon at will. Nina wasn’t just singing about being misunderstood — she was warning you.
It’s a rare song that balances fragility and power this perfectly. It’s part gospel, part jazz lament, and completely her own thing. On ukulele, it sits in a moody Am that feels like it was written for late-night candlelight and a glass of something dangerous.
Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords: [Am], [F], [E7], [Dm], [G], [C]
- Progression: Verse: Am – F – E7 – Am / Chorus: Dm – Am – E7 – Am
- Strumming: Keep it restrained: D DU UDU at a slow, deliberate pace. It’s not a party — it’s a confession.
- Add a gentle palm mute through the verses, then open up for the chorus. Let that [E7] ring with menace.
- To sell it, sing from the chest, not the throat — Nina’s power was felt, not forced.
Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- The song was written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, and Sol Marcus — not Nina herself — but she transformed it into something deeply personal.
- The Animals’ version was inspired directly by hers, and they even kept her phrasing in the chorus.
- It’s one of the most covered soul standards ever, from Joe Cocker to Lana Del Rey — but Nina’s is still the one that feels like a sermon.
Final Word
Play it like you’ve got a storm under your skin but you’re too proud to let it show. Nina’s version reminds us that “feeling too much” is a superpower — not a flaw.
