Tune Req: When you're white you're alright

12 Oct 05 - 06:29 PM (#1581759)
Subject: Tune Req: When you're white you're alright
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I remember from my younger days a good 'ol blue song, on vinyl!! with the lyrics (I think the chorus) "When you're white you're alright, when you're brown stick around, but when you're black brother get on back, get on back.

This is all I can remember but do remember really enjoying listening to this when trashed. Would like to find out who the original artist was and the correct title of the song, also where I could purchase on CD or download.

Can anybody help

Thanks in advance.

Simon.

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12 Oct 05 - 07:54 PM (#1581846)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: When you're white you're alright
From: Elmer Fudd

"Black, Brown, and White Blues"
by Big Bill Broonzy

Just listen to this song I'm singin brother, you know its true,
If you're black and got to work for a living, here's what people will say,
'Now if you're white, you're all right, And if you're brown, stick around;
But if you're black, oh brother, Get back, get back, get back.

source: http://www.recorderhomepage.net/blues.html

Cheers, Elmer

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12 Oct 05 - 10:08 PM (#1581890)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: When you're white you're alright
From: Peace

Lyrics for version 2 here.

I will look for version 1.

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12 Oct 05 - 10:11 PM (#1581893)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: When you're white you're alright
From: Peace

Don't know.

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13 Oct 05 - 05:26 PM (#1582618)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: When you're white you're alright
From: Elmer Fudd

Nice work, Peace. I hope Simon Ball appreciates the effort. Ahem.

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13 Oct 05 - 09:40 PM (#1582754)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: When you're white you're alright
From: Suffet

Greetings:

The tune, guitar accompiment, and lyrics are in Folk Songs of North America by Alan Lomax. The song is listed under the title Black, Brown, and White, and the author is Big Bill Broonzy.

You may be able to find a copy of the Lomax book at a public library. If your own library doesn't have it, they get get for you on an inter-library loan.

--- Steve

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13 Oct 05 - 11:38 PM (#1582799)
Subject: Lyr. Add: BLACK, BROWN AND WHITE (2)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

The version of "Black, Brown and White" in Lomax, FSNA, is not quite the same as the one linked as 'version 2' by Peace. Websites often disappear, so these are the lyrics:

Lyr. Add: Black, Brown and White (version 2)
Big Bill Broonzy

This little song that I'm singin' about,
people, you know that it's true
If you're black and gotta work for livin',
now, this is what they will say to you,

they says, "If you was white, you'd be alright,
if you was brown, stick around,
but if you're black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back"

I was in a place one night,
they was all havin' fun,
They was all buyin' beer and wine,
But they would not sell me none,

they said, "If you was white, You'd be alright,
If you was brown, stick around,
but as you's black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back."

I went to an employment office,
I got a number and I got in line,
They called everybody's number,
but they never did call mine.

They said, "If you was white, you'd be alright,
if you was brown, stick around,
but as you's black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back."

Me and a man workin' side by side,
this is what it meant
They was payin' him a dollar an hour,
and they was payin' me fifty cent.

They said, "If you was white, you'd be alright,
If you was brown, stick around,
but as you's black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back."

I helped build the country,
and I fought for it too,
now, I guess that you can see,
what a black man have to do.

They says, "If you was white, you's alright,
if you was brown, stick around,
but as you's black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back."

I helped win sweet victory,
with my little plow and hoe
Now, I want you to tell me, brother,
what you gonna do 'bout old Jim Crow?

Now, if you is white, you's alright,
if you's brown, stick around,
But if you's black, hmmm, hmmm, brother,
get back, get back, get back.

This reads like Big Bill Broonzy would sing it (transcribed from "Blues Roots," vol. 4, by anon. The version in Lomax is a little bit 'improved'; the verse about 'sweet victory' is combined with the one about 'build the country' and the ending is changed.
Lomax does have music and chords, but I am not sure that they haven't been 'improved' as well. A note says "fast narrative blues." No. 316, p. 594, "The Folk Songs of North America," Alan Lomax. In the Index, it is titled "Black, Brown and White Blues."
In a biography I found, it says composed in 1939. Lomax says composed in the 40's, copyright 1946.

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