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
We've got no time for segregating
I'm talking 'bout brown and yellow too

I, 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 and killing 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?

Pardon me, brother, as you stand in your glory
I know you won't mind if I tell the whole story, yeah

We people, we people
We people, we people
We people, we people

We people, we won't let them say
We people, we're no good for nothing
We people, we won't stand for that
We people, we people