Why-O

Music & Lyrics by Garland Jeffreys

From the album Ghost Writer (1977)

If I were a little black boy

say five years old

I’d ask my mommy please

what’s goin’on

And if I were a little white girl

say six years old

I’d beg my daddy please, do I belong

Tell me why-o

Tell me why

Tell me tell me why-o

Tell why-o

Won’t you tell me

Oh the governor tell me sonny boy

If you want to stay with us

You must ride to school on Monday son

In a big black bus

Oh the governor tell me girlie

You must stay in school you must

You must ride to school on Tuesday,

now

Don’t Ja-make-a fuss

Tell me why-o

Tell me why

Tell me tell me why-o

Tell why-o

Won’t you tell me

Oh if I were a little black boy

I’d be so confused

I’d feel a pain inside my heart

I’d feel so much abuse

And I were a little white girl

I’d be so uptight

Cause there’s trouble in the U.S.A.

It’s as clear as black and white

Tell me why-o

Tell me why

Tell me tell me why-o

Tell me why

Tell me tell me why-o

Why-o why-o won’t you tell me

Tell me why-o

Tell me why oh now oh now

Why there trouble down in Boston town

Why there trouble South in Louisville

Why there trouble up in Detroit now

Why there trouble out in L.A. now

Why there trouble here in New York town

Trouble in my home town

Trouble in my home town

Trouble in my home town

Trouble in my home town