Betty Was Black (and Willie Was White) Lyrics

Todd Snider Betty Was Black (and Willie Was White)

Betty was black and Willie was white
Betty and Willie got it on one night
They climbed in a bottle of Tanqueray
Fell in love that very day
They sat by the fire and listened to jazz
Had pretty little dreams like every couple has
But they had to be careful where they went out at night
'Cause Betty was black and Willie was white

Willie's old man cut him out of the will
He hired a lawyer and sent Willie the bill
He said "Do what you want boy, anything's fine
'"'Cause from now on you ain't no son of mine"
And Betty's momma, she tried to understand
But her Daddy just gave her the back of his hand
Said "Get out of this house, girl, don't you ever come
back"
You see Willie was white and Betty was black

The next few years were difficult ones
They put up with sneers and social shuns
And one fine year she bore a son
They named him Tad and they dreamed of a year a little
less bad
When Tad could stand in a skin of brown
A valedictorian's cap and gown
And dream of a day when the future's bright
And you could be proud to be black and proud to be
white
And dream of a day
When it's all right
That Betty was black and Willie was white