Betty Was Black (and Willie Was White)
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
Betty Era Negra (e Willie Era Branco)
Betty era negra e Willie era branco
Betty e Willie se pegaram uma noite
Entraram numa garrafa de Tanqueray
Se apaixonaram naquele mesmo dia
Sentaram-se perto da fogueira e ouviram jazz
Tiveram sonhos bonitinhos como todo casal tem
Mas tinham que ter cuidado onde saíam à noite
Porque Betty era negra e Willie era branco
O pai de Willie o cortou do testamento
Ele contratou um advogado e mandou a conta pra Willie
Disse "Faça o que quiser, garoto, tá tranquilo
Porque a partir de agora você não é mais meu filho"
E a mãe de Betty, ela tentou entender
Mas o pai dela só deu a ela o desprezo
Disse "Saia dessa casa, garota, nunca mais volte"
Você vê, Willie era branco e Betty era negra
Os próximos anos foram difíceis
Eles aguentaram zombarias e exclusões sociais
E em um belo ano ela teve um filho
Chamaram-no de Tad e sonharam com um ano menos ruim
Quando Tad pudesse ficar com a pele morena
Um capelo e uma toga de formatura
E sonhar com um dia em que o futuro é brilhante
E você poderia se orgulhar de ser negro e se orgulhar de ser branco
E sonhar com um dia
Em que tudo está certo
Que Betty era negra e Willie era branco