Creole babies from Manhattan
Will be leaving Harlem if htey can
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!
When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Louis Armstrong with his trumpet
Will be heading westward with his band
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!
When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Harlem crooners with a swing will be singing at the studio
Makes no difference if you can't sing, just say, "he-de-he-de-hi-de-ho!"

When they start to swing that rhythm
I'll be heading for that promised land
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

You won't find them wing and bucking
Everybody will be truckin'
It's gonna be grand
When Hollywood goes black and tan!

The mayor of Harlem says he'll be there
To give those boys a helping hand
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!
When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Old Bob Howard made a promise
To latch on to that baby grand
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!
When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Steppin Fetchit's gonna sing and dance like Fred Astaire
Nina May don't have to sing 'cause she can be petit like Ina Claire

Water's gonna do a fan dance
And shake the feathers off her fan
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!
Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

Here's good news and it's the newest
Braddock's going to meet Joe Louis
It's gonna be grand
When Hollywood goes black and tan!