Get Back (Black, Brown and White)
Big Bill Broonzy. Chicago, 8. November 1951

This little song that I’m singin’ about,
People, you all know that it’s true,
If you’re black and gotta work for livin’,
Now, this is what they will say to you,
They says: “If you was white,
You’s alright,
If you was brown,
Stick around,
But if you’s black, oh, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.”

I was in a place one night,
They was all havin’ fun,
They was all buyin’ beer and wine,
But they would not sell me none.
They said: “If you was white,
You’s alright,
If you was brown,
You could stick around,
But as you’s black, hmm, hmm, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.”

I went to an employment office,
I got a number and I got in line,
They called everybody’s number,
But they never did call mine.
They said: “If you was white,
You’s alright,
If you was brown,
You could stick around,
But as you’s black, hmm, hmm, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.”

Me and a man was workin’ side by side,
Now, this is what it meant:
They was payin’ him a dollar an hour,
And they was payin’ me fifty cent.
They said: “If you was white,
You’d be alright,
If you was brown,
You could stick around,
But as you’s black, oh, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.”

I helped win sweet victories,
With my plow and hoe,
Now, I want you to tell me, brother,
What you gonna do ’bout the old Jim Crow?
Now, if you is white,
You’s alright,
If you’s brown,
Stick around,
But if you’s black, oh, brother,
Get back, get back, get back.

I am beginning a series on color and social positioning. While doing a little investigative work on the origin of the saying, “If you’re black, get back,” I came across this song.  It was written by Big Bill Broonzy in 1949 but for obvious reasons, it took two years to get it into circulation.  In France, he was assisted by writer-critic Hugues Panassie and record company officials.  The song challenges its listeners concerning the disproportionate opportunities “to make a living,” the denial of goods and services, the inequity in pay and treatment and the reality of segregation.  All are the result of social color prejudice.

Because if you were socially defined as black, you had to get back.  It is to say that the social coloring of one’s skin suggested that one was not to come close to others, that it naturally implied a physical, social and economic distance.  The social coloring of one’s skin, if “white,” suggested that your presence was accepted, non-threatening and/or normal.  If the social coloring of one’s skin was labeled as “brown,” she or he could stay but it did not suggest approval.  Today, the social coloring of one’s skin still attempts to determine relational proximity, social experience and mobility.  The song suggests that you can only go where your color tells you and it has become a social truth for many Americans.  But, this is the position of color and should not be confused with my position in Jesus Christ.  I have a few lyrics of my own and they are found in Ephesians 1.3-14.  This is my story and this is my song!