This little song that I'm singing about,
people you know it's true,
if you're black and gotta work
for a living now,
this is what they would say to you,
they'd say if you was white,
you'd be alright,
if you was brown, stick around,
but as you're black,
oh brother, get back,
oh brother
Get back, get back, get back
They went to the employment office,
their number I got in line,
They called everybody's number
but they never did call mine,
They said if you was white you'd alright,
If you was brown you'd stick around
but as you black,
Oh brother, get back,
get back, get back.
Me and a man was workin' side by side,
this is what it meant.
They was payin' him a dollar now
and they was payin' me fifty cents.
said, if you was white, you'd be all right,
if you was brown, stick around,
but as you black, oh brother,
get back, get back, get back.
I hope built this country,
and I fought for it, too.
Now I guess that you can see
what a black man have to do.
He says if you was white, it's all right.
If you was brown, stick around.
But as you was black, oh brother,
get back, get back, get back.
I hope we win sweet victory
with my little plyin' hoe
Now I want you to tell me, brother,
what you gonna do about
the old Jim Crow
Now if you's white, she's all right
If you's brown, stick around
But if you's black, oh brother
Get back, get back, get back