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 (y Willie era blanco)
Betty era negra y Willie era blanco
Betty y Willie se juntaron una noche
Se metieron en una botella de Tanqueray
Se enamoraron ese mismo día
Se sentaron junto al fuego y escucharon jazz
Tenían bonitos sueños como toda pareja
Pero debían tener cuidado a dónde salían de noche
Porque Betty era negra y Willie era blanco
El viejo de Willie lo sacó de su testamento
Contrató a un abogado y le envió la cuenta a Willie
Dijo 'Haz lo que quieras muchacho, todo está bien'
'Porque a partir de ahora no eres mi hijo'
Y la mamá de Betty, trató de entender
Pero su papá simplemente le dio la espalda
Dijo 'Sal de esta casa, chica, no vuelvas nunca más'
Ves, Willie era blanco y Betty era negra
Los siguientes años fueron difíciles
Soportaron miradas de desprecio y rechazos sociales
Y un buen año ella dio a luz a un hijo
Lo llamaron Tad y soñaron con un año un poco menos malo
Cuando Tad pudiera destacar con una piel morena
Con una toga y birrete de abanderado
Y soñar con un día en que el futuro sea brillante
Y puedas estar orgulloso de ser negro y orgulloso de ser blanco
Y soñar con un día
Cuando todo esté bien
Que Betty era negra y Willie era blanco