Oh don't cry my baby Don't cry all the while Don't cry my baby Just give me a smile Seen my daddy die in the war Seen my mamma die cryin' for
Ring-a a-ring-a But I've got to sing A-ring-a a-ring-a But I've got to sing
They call me a hounddog They call me a swine It's all because of my color For their war though I'm fine
A-ring-ring a-ring-ring But I've got to sing A-ring-a a-ring-a But I've got to sing Dee dum dee day hey Dum dah dah dee dum Dee dum dee day hey Dum dah dah dee dum
They're talkin' 'bout freedom Of religion and race But if you're a negro They slap you in the face
Ring-a a-ring-a But I've got to sing A-ring-a a-ring-a But I've got to sing
So what's the use fightin' for That sacred democracy When ku klux klan murd'rers Are going scot-free
Ring-a a-ring-a But I've got to sing A-ring-ring a-ring-a But I've got to sing
But I'm still happy So don't cry, my babe Together we'll strife for Bein' free people some day
Oh ring, ring So we've got to sing Ring, ring Together we will sing
Ih dum dah dah dee dum Ih dum dah dah dee day Ih dum dah dah dee dum Ih dum dah dah dee day Ih dum dah dah dee dee dum dum Ih dum dah dah dee day yay Ih dum dah dah dee dee dum dum Ih dum dah dah dee day Hum, huuuum huuuuuum Hum, huuuum huuuuuum Ih dum, ih dum Ih dum, dah dah dee day, hey hey Ih dum ih dum Ih dum dah dah dee day
