Todd Snider
Lyric guide

Betty Was Black (and Willie Was White)

Read Betty Was Black (and Willie Was White) lyrics by Todd Snider on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Todd Snider Canonical path: /todd-snider/betty-was-black-and-willie-was-white Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

Betty Was Black (and Willie Was White)

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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

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Yes. The related section below points to 24 Hours A Day and 45 Miles with a short reason for opening each page next.

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