This little song that I'm singin' about
People, you know it's true
If you black and gotta work for a livin'
Now, this is what they will say to you

They says, "if you's white, be all right"
"If you was brown, stick around"
"But as you black, oh 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 as you black, oh brother, get back get back get back"

We went to an employment office
Got a number an 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, stick around"
"But as you black, oh 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, should be all right"
"If you was brown, stick around"
"But as you black, oh brother, get back, get back, get back"

I helped build the country
And I fought for it too
Now, I guess that you can see what a black man have to do
They says, "If you's white, she's alright"
"If he was brown, stick around"
"But as you's black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back"

I helped win sweet victory
With my little plough and hoe
Now, I want you to tell me brother
What you gonna do about the old Jim Crow?

Now, if you's white, she's alright
If you's brown, stick around
But if you's black, oh brother, get back, get back, get back

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Wixen Music Publishing
Writer(s): William Lee Conley Broonzy