Peace Songbook

The Color Song

By Patricia Shih

in Big Ideas by Patricia Shih

©1984 Patricia Shih

Lyrics

Why do they call you yellow man? You're not yellow at all

Yellow is the color of the morning sun and dandelions and

  chicken soup and legal pads and

Fearful minds

Yes, yellow is the color of all these things

But people are not the same

You remind me of the golden rule whenever I say your name-O

 

(Bum bum bum bum bum...4x)

 

Why do they call you red man? You're not red at all

Red is the color of the climbing rose and traffic lights and

  tomatoes and chicken pox and bloody nose and

Angry words

Yes, red is the color of all these things

But people are not the same

I can see the rosy future whenever I say your name-O (Bum...)

 

Why do they call you black man? You're not black at all

Black is the color of light not there and Daddy's shoes and

  Mommy's hair and bowling balls and questions marks and

Blind despair

Yes, black is the color of all these things

But people are not the same

I have had the deepest thoughts whenever I say your name-O (Bum...)

 

Why do they call you white man? You're not white at all

White is the color of the petticoats and Elmer's glue and

  billy goats and falling snow and

Burning shame

Yes, white is the color of all these things

But people are not the same

I can see the clearest light whenever I say your name-O (Bum...)

 

So what do you call your fellow man if color doesn't matter at all?

Anything! So long it's in the name of love and forgiveness and

  hopefulness and lasting peace and dignity and

Brotherhood

For many are the colors of all these things

But people are all the same

We're each other's brothers and sisters and we all have one name-O (Bum...)

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