I'm taught to be proud
Still I'm not allowed
To speak and know I'm being heard
It seems rather strange
Some things never change
Some lessons they never get learned

I've come a long ways
Since back in the days
In Dixie when cotton was king
The heartache remains
From the storms I've been through
And right now I'm black and blue

I stayed on my knees
I cried and I grieved
It's hard to forgive and forget
But memories don't die
And I'm still asking why
Would people treat people like that

God looks at my skin
I'm lovely to Him
He made me and said it was good
But people still judge
It's so sad but it's true
God knows why I'm black and blue
I've nothing to gain
By shifting the blame
I'm saying, at last
Let the past be the past
While there is strength in my bones
I will still journey on
But I'm not naïve
I still do believe that

The last will be first
The servant be served
We're all bound to reap what we sow
When love finally wins
Someday hatred will lose
'Til then I'll be black and blue

One day love will win
Someday hatred will lose
Then I still will be black
But I'll no longer be blue