Leonard Bernstein
I, Too, Sing America / Okay Negroes
[BARITONE]
I, too, sing America
I am the darker brother
[MEZZO]
Okay, okay, okay Negroes
American Negroes
American Negroes
[BARITONE]
They send me to eat in the kitchen
[MEZZO]
Looking for milk
[BARITONE]
When company comes
[MEZZO]
Crying out loud
[BARITONE]
But I laugh
And eat well
[MEZZO]
In the nursery of Freedomland
[BARITONE]
And grow strong
[MEZZO]
The rides are rough
[BARITONE]
Tomorrow
I’ll sit at the table
When company comes
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me
“Eat in the kitchen,"
Then
[MEZZO]
Tell me where you got that image
Of a male white mammy
God is vague and he don't take no sides
[BARITONE]
Besides
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed —
[MEZZO]
You think clean fingernails crossed legs a smile
Shined shoes
A crucifix around your neck
Good manners
No more noise
You think who's gonna give you something?
You think who's gonna give you something?
[BARITONE]
I, too, am America
[MEZZO]
Come a little closer
Where you from?
[BARITONE]
I, too, am America
Tomorrow I'll sit at the table
[MEZZO]
Come a little closer
Where you from?