We people who are darker than blue Don't let us hang around this town And let what others say come true We're just good for nothing they all figure A boyish grown up shiftless jigger Now we can't hardly stand for that Or is that really where it's at We people who are darker than blue This ain't no time for segregating I'm talking 'bout brown and yellow too A white girl can't you tell I'm just the surface of our dark deep well If your mind could really see You'd know your color same as me, Pardon me brother as you stand in your glory I know you won't mind if I tell the whole story Now I know we have great respect for the sister, and mother It's even better yet But there's the joker in the street loving one brother ano k**ing the other When the time comes and we are really free There'll be no brothers left to see We people who are darker than blue Don't let us hang around this town And let what others say come true We're just good for nothing they all figure A boyish grown up shiftless jigger Now we can't hardly stand for that Or is that really where it's at