Black Brown, white - Big Bill Broonzy

This little song that I’m singin' about,

People you know it’s true

If you’re black and gotta work for a living,

This is what they will say to you,

They say «if you was white, should be all right,

If you was brown, stick around,

But as you’s black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back»

I was in a place one night

They was all having fun

They was all buyin' beer and wine,

But they would not sell me none

They said, «if you was white, should be all right,

If you was brown, stick around,

But if you black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back»

Me and a man was workin' side by side

This is what it meant

They was paying him a dollar an hour,

And they was paying me fifty cent

They said, «if you was white, 't should be all right,

If you was brown, could stick around,

But as you black, hmm boy, get back, get back, get back»

I went to an employment office,

Got a number 'n' I got in line

They called everybody’s number,

But they never did call mine

They said, «if you was white, should be all right,

If you was brown, could stick around,

But as you black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back»

I hope when sweet victory,

With my plough and hoe

Now I want you to tell me brother,

What you gonna do about the old Jim Crow?

Now if you was white, should be all right,

If you was brown, could stick around,

But if you black, whoa brother, get back, get back, get back