Welcome to the World
Music & Lyrics by Garland Jeffreys
From the album Don’t Call Me Buckwheat (1992)
Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
Coney Island on my mind
Brighton Beach is calling me
From another time
Listen to the radio
Bringing waves across the color line
Each and every song is
The color of music
On my way to school
I’m passing one more time
Sheepshead Bay disguised
I’m walkin’ color blind
Listen to the radio
Frankie Lymon’s no J.D.
Believe in every single word
It’s the color of music
Welcome to the world of black and white
Welcome to the world of love and hate
Welcome to the birth of a nation
Of segregate, there’s still a separation
Blacker than a 100 midnights
Whiter than white on white
Livin’ in a virtual behind the color curtain
Now that ain’t right, that ain’t right
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world of opposites
Welcome to the world of inequality
Welcome to the world of human rights
Where they’re all for you
None for me
Blacker than a 100 midnights
Colder than a soul on ice
Police are kickin’ out the livin’ daylights
Now that ain’t right, that ain’t right,
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
In a world of cliché
Where violence is golden
Where the king of glove
Meets the genius of persuasion
Silenced for what you say
Censored if you’re old and grey
This thing called love
Is saved for the occasion, yeah
We know you’re startin’ up
Your reign of bigotry
On every main street
A secret society
You better beware
Louisiana Metairie
You been ku kluxxed
The tactics of a Nazi
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
We want no more Negro bashing
No more black and white clashing
No more white on black crime
No more black on black on white crime
No more guns and roses
No more police and firehoses
No more gutter sniping
No more black and white stereotyping
No more for colored only
No more for whites only
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world
Welcome to the world