Nina Simone, Take Me To The Water | Music Lifts

In the 13^th edition of Music Lifts (2026), we’re uplifted by legendary jazz musician Nina Simone performing “Take Me To The Water.”

Welcome to Music Lifts, featuring songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 13^th edition of Music Lifts (2026), we highlight “Take Me To The Water” as performed by Nina Simone.

Growing up in the black church, “Take Me To The Water” (aka “None But The Righteous”) was a staple.  This traditional African American spiritual NEVER grows old, nor are its powerful lyrics or tuneful melody taken lightly.  Musical icon Nina Simone (1933 – 2003) shines on her rendition of “Take Me To The Water.” It appears as the sixth track on her 1967 album, fittingly titled High Priestess Of Soul. Simone was known by this moniker.

“Take Me To The Water” begins with a delightful piano intro.  This is no surprise given Nina Simone’s virtuosic skills on the keys.  Besides tickling the ivories, Simone blesses us with her expressive, once-in-a-lifetime voice. She sounds commanding as she sings the words of the familiar African American spiritual.  As familiar as the words may be, her performance makes this oldie but goodie sound refreshing. “None but the righteous / None but the righteous / None but the righteous / Shall see God,” she sings in the verse, before another iteration of the chorus, “Take me to the water,” follows. Beyond her own sensational voice, she’s accompanied by a choir, upping the ante. On the outro, she switches things up.  With piano lines that sound like the ripples in the water, Simone informs us, “I’m going back home.” She concludes with the key lyric, “To be baptized.” Within the context of High Priestess Of Soul, “Take Me To The Water” prefaces the groovy, up-tempo, horn-filled “I’m Going Back Home”.  These two songs make a mean one-two punch.  All told, “Take Me To The Water” in the hands of Miss Nina is epic.

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Nina Simone » High Priestess Of Soul » The Verve Music Group » 1967

Nina Simone, Take Me To The Water: Music Lifts No. 13 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; The Verve Music Group; Emma Bauso, foad shariyati, nappy, Niko Twisty, Victoria Strelka_ph, Wolrider YURTSEVEN from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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