Born With Some Color

Born With Some Color 

1917, East St. Loo 
Negroes in the factory, two by two 
Used to be white folk turnin’ out the ham 
But the war pulled ‘em out to fight the Kaiser’s men 

That’s when my daddy was born 
Son of a meat packer, son of a whore 
Just an accident that grew to be a man 
Raised on table scraps he asked for nothin’ more 

1938, the circus came to town 
Mama tellin’ fortunes and sleepin’ all around 
Her great-grandpa had owned a few slaves 
Seein’ who she married would turn him in his grave 

Yes I was born with some color hiding in my skin 
Raised with a head of hair that never fit in 
Never liked my country, my house or my shoes 
I grew up in a fever, and earned my black and blues 

Growin’ up, whitey called me mud 
Now some jack will notice and maybe call me blood 
The law of the land says leave me alone 
But prayers and promises break like bones 

I seen crackers hangin’ raisins in the trees 
And so-called brothers will slash you like a breeze 
Can’t trust nothin’ but clouds in the sky 
One eye’s for trouble, and one looks the other way 

Yes I was born with some color hiding in my skin 
Raised with a head of hair that never fit in 
Never liked my country, my name or my shoes 
I grew up in a fever, and earned my black and blues 

Daddy gave me somethin’ dark, Mama made it light 
Everyone around me was spoilin’ for a fight 
I had to learn how to slip into the night 
Stay away from trouble ‘cause I’ve never been right 

Yes I was born with some color hiding in my skin 
Raised with a head of hair that never fit in 
Never liked my country, my house or my shoes 
I grew up in a fever, and earned my black and blues 
I grew up in a fever, and earned my black and blues