Black, Brown And White

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 says: 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

Negro, Marrón y Blanco

Esta pequeña canción sobre la que estoy cantando
Gente que conoces es verdad
Si eres negro y tienes que trabajar para vivir
Esto es lo que te dirán

Dicen: si eras blanco, debería estar bien
Si eras marrón, quédate
Pero como eres negro, hmm, hermano, vuelve, vuelve, vuelve

Estuve en un lugar una noche
Todos se estaban divirtiendo
Todos estaban comprando cerveza y vino
Pero no me vendieron ninguno

Dijeron: si eras blanco, debería estar bien
Si eras marrón, quédate
Pero si eres negro, hmm hermano, regresa, regresa, regresa

Yo y un hombre estábamos trabajando lado a lado
Esto es lo que significaba
Le pagaban un dólar por hora
Y me pagaban cincuenta centavos

Dijeron: si eras blanco, no debería estar bien
Si fuera marrón, podría quedarse
Pero como eres negro, hmm chico, regresa, regresa, regresa

Fui a una oficina de empleo
Tengo un número y me puse en línea
Llamaron al número de todos
Pero nunca llamaron a la mía

Dijeron: si eras blanco, debería estar bien
Si fuera marrón, podría quedarse
Pero como eres negro, hmm hermano, regresa, regresa, regresa

Espero cuando dulce victoria
Con mi arado y azada
Ahora quiero que me digas hermano
¿Qué vas a hacer con el viejo Jim Crow?

Ahora si eras blanco, debería estar bien
Si fuera marrón, podría quedarse
Pero si eres negro, hermano, regresa, regresa, regresa

Composição: Big Bill Broonzy