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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
He says "From now on you're no son of mine"
And Betty's momma, she tried to understand
But her Daddy just gave her the back of his hand
He said "Get out of this house, girl, don't you ever come back"
Willie was white, Betty was black
The next few years were
difficult ones
They put up with sneers and social shuns
And then one fine year they bore a son
They named him Tad and dreamed of a year a little less bad
When Tad could stand in a skin of brown
A valedictorian's cap and gown
And speak of a day when everything's alright
And be proud to be black and be proud to be white
A dream of a day when everything's alright
Betty was black and Willie was white