Color Line

Music & Lyrics by Garland Jeffreys

From the album Don’t Call Me Buckwheat (1992)

When you walk the color line better beware

They’re gonna stop and stare

When you cross that color line better take care

You’re gonna get your share

People some try to rule the world

Rejoicing while the weak ones fade

You can’t make the balck and tan

Be a prisoner in his own land

And turn him into a slave

Cross that color line oh oh oh oh oh

Cross that color line oh oh

Cross that color line oh oh oh oh oh

Cross that color line oh oh

Say hey Willie Mays

Say hey Cool Papa Bell say

Say hey to my Daddy Ray

Say say say say say

Say hey Sugar Ray

Say hey Jackie Robinson say

Say hey to Satchel Paige

Say hey say say hey

Calling on American and every sister and sir

To take freedom instead

Reverse the hearse and down the dread

Here’s a message daddy gave me to remember

Cross that color line oh oh oh oh oh

Cross that color line oh oh

Cross that color line oh oh oh oh oh

Cross that color line oh oh

Say hey Willie Mays

Say hey Cool Papa Bell say

Say hey to my Daddy Ray

Say hey to the Homestead Greys

Say hey to Sweetwater Clifton

To Jack Johnson

To Josh Gibson

To Shorty Bolden say hey

When you cross

When you cross

When you cross the

Color line, yeah