"She's My One Black, Two Black" Songs (Complete Reprint Of Comments From The Discussion Thread For The 2012 Pancocojams Post-#27 - #50)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part series on versions of "She's My One Black, Two Black" song. "She's My One Black, Two Black" songs have their source in the 1928 Blues song "Chocolate To The Bone".

This post reprints comments  #27- #50 of the comments that were published in the discussion thread for the  2012 pancocojams post "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black". Most of those comments include examples of that "She's My One Black, Two Black" song.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/shes-my-one-black-two-black-complete.html for Part I of that pancocojams post. That post presents a complete reprint of the 2012 pancocojams post with the title "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/shes-my-one-black-two-black-complete_20.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents #1-#26 of the comments that were published for that 2012 pancocojams post. Most of those comments include examples of the "She's My One Black Two Black" song.  

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The content of this post is presented for historical ,socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks also to all these who are quoted in this post. 

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COMPLETE REPRINT OF COMMENTS FROM THE 2012 PANCOCOJAMS POST FROM #27-#50
These comments are reprinted as they appear in the discussion thread for the 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black"."

I wrote most of the replies and a few of the other comments. My comments are given "as is" with no spelling or punctuation corrections and no additions.

Numbers are added for all of these comments for references purposes only.

As of this date (Nov. 20, 2024), if there are any more comments published to the discussion thread of that 2012 pancocojams post, I will reprint them in the comment section for this 2024 post.
 

27. UnknownJanuary 7, 2016 at 3:26 PM
"I just found this thread while trying to find out the original lyrics. I'm no more sure now that I was when I started. I learned the song from my grandfather, the son of Irish immigrants from the Detroit area. It was always added to the end of I've Been Working on the Railroad with the version given by Anna on 12/14/13. Being Caucasian, I was always afraid to be called a racist for even knowing the lyrics, but it was so catchy. It was never sung with malice, but only ever by my grandfather, an Episcopal priest with a big bellowing voice. I'm glad to have stumbled upon this blog."

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Reply
28. Azizi Powell. January 7, 2016 at 8:12 PM
"Greetings, Michael Gass. I'm glad you found this blog!

Thanks for sharing your memories about this song and thanks for including demographical information. It's interesting that the song "She's My One Black" was added to the end of "I've Been Working On The Railroad". I'm not sure what the origin of that "...Railroad" song is, but I believe it's old."

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29. Wim, March 21, 2016 at 5:50 PM
"The version I learned (mid-1950's, east Tennessee, white, Scots-Irish, German, AmerIndian) was the same as Anna's, except for the line, " If you see my gal, walkin down the street, boy, you better leave her alone!" I heard it sung by adults (I was a child) as a sort of drinking song. A medley, with "Railroad," "Dinah, Won'tcha Blow," "Someone's Inna Kitchen With Dinah", "Fee, Fi, Fiddly Eye Oh," and ending with "One Black, Two Black." I have often wondered if it were a show-tune, maybe from a musical, Broadway, Vaudeville, etc. Just a guess. They're all dead, now. No one left to ask."

I don't think that "She's My One Black" is a racist song. On the contrary, the lyrics praise a woman who is "chocolate to the bone". Yet, I can understand your concern about how some people who are Black and/or some people who aren't Black could misunderstand the lyrics to this song and also misjudge people who sing this song in public.

Best wishes!"

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30. Azizi Powell, March 21, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Wim, you win the commenting prize for demographical information. Thanks!!

The combination of songs that were sung with "One Black Two Black" sounds like that might have been "a musical, Broadway, Vaudeville,". We may never know- unless someone else remembers this and shares that information.

Here's hoping...

Thanks again!!"

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31. Azizi Powell, March 21, 2016 at 7:07 PM
"PS: I know "Wim you win" is really corny, but, hey I can't help being me :o)"

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32. Diane, August 28, 2016 at 8:07 PM
"I learned a very similar string of songs as Wim described from my parents when we sang songs on road trips in the late 1950s and early 60s. My father has died but my mom says he was the one who introduced it to us and she thinks he learned it in Lutheran high school or Lutheran college or possibly at camp. He was white, German heritage, born in 1931 and raised and went to both schools in the Chicago area.

His version started with the Railroad song that included Dinah Wontcha Blow, Someones in the Kitchen with Dinah and Fee,Fi, Fiddly Eyoh. Then he would continue:

Now you may think that there aint no more.

Now you may think that there aint no more.

Now you may think that htere aint no more.

Well there aint!

(LONG PAUSE)

But there is!

She's my one black, two black, eyes like a shoeblack

Chocolate to the bone.

Hair like a Jezebel, teeth like pearls,

Mama Moses, she's some girl!

She's my one black two black, eyes like a shoeblack,

chocolate to the bone.

(very slow) You better leave her alone!

 

When he would sing it to me he would change "Dinah" to "Diane" (my name) and implied that the girl with the dark tan was Diane, too. Even though my eyes were actually blue it made me feel like he was telling all the boys not to mess with his beautiful and wild daughter!"

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33. Azizi Powell, August 29, 2016 at 10:51 AM
"Hi, Diane!

Thanks for sharing your memories of your father and those songs.

I appreciate your inclusion of demographics (years, race, and city, state) for the folkloric record.

The "one black, two black" song may be more widely remembered than I thought."

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Reply [Written on November 20, 2024- Pancocojams Editor's Note: Part of this is a reprint from comment #34, as if I didn't realize I had already replied to Diane.] 

Reply
34.Azizi Powell, August 29, 2016 at 11:31 AM
"Hi, Diane!

 Thanks for sharing your memories of your father and those songs.

 I appreciate your inclusion of demographics (years, race, and city, state) for the folkloric record.

The "one black, two black" song may be more widely remembered than I thought. And that fact that a number of people from different locations were taught "One Black Two Black" as a medley, with "Railroad," "Dinah, Won'tcha Blow," "Someone's Inna Kitchen With Dinah", "Fee, Fi, Fiddly Eye Oh" suggests that it probably was (as commenter Wim guessed) "a show-tune, maybe from a musical, Broadway, Vaudeville, etc."

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35. Anonymous, March 28, 2018 at 9:51 AM
"I learned this song at a summer camp when I was 11 or 12. A female, white counselor around 18 yrs old taught it to us. I don't think she realized the meaning, and I didn't realize it until now because I wanted to find the title of the song. Her version went like this

"I've got a one black

Two black

Eyes like a true black

Chocolate to the bone

If you see that cow walking down the street

You better leave that cow alone

She's got eyes like a Jezebel, teeth like a pearl

Gosh, oh gee, she's out of this world

She's a one black

Two black

Eyes like a shoe black

Chocolate to the bone"

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36. Anonymous,March 28, 2018 at 10:05 AM
"As I was reading the above comments, I saw a verse that went

"Harmony, my baby harmony

first thing you do is you get 4 boys

next thing you do is you make a lot of noise

Harmony, my baby harmony

This is harmony, my baby harmony...yeah"

And I remember this (or some variation of this) added to the end of the song. As a kid, I thought she was talking about an actual cow and I had no idea what four boys would've helped with. I still don't really understand what the four boys part was about."

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37. Azizi Powell, March 28, 2018 at 12:24 PM
"Hello, Anonymous March 28, 2018 at 9:51 AM

Thanks for sharing that version of "She's my one black" and including how you learned it.

I learned the "She's My One Black" song from reading about it online, but it might be more widely known in the USA then I had originally thought.

Anonymous March 28, 2018 at 10:05 AM
If I understand you correctly, you read an example of the "Harmony, my baby harmony" verse that was added to the end of the "She's my one Black" song.

I think this addition is risque and isn't really pertinent to that focused song itself.

Thanks again for commenting!"

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38. Katie Simons, January 4, 2021 at 2:43 PM
"My mother used to sing this song -- she learned it at church camp in Indiana in the 1940s. She sang:

 
"One black, Two black, Blacker than shoe black

Chocolate to the Bone...

If you see that gal of mine, won't you tell her to come home?

She's got hair like a raven and teeth like a pearl

O Land's Sake, what a Beautiful girl!

One Black, Two Black, Blacker than Shoe Black,

Chocolate to the Bone."

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39. Katie Simons, January 4, 2021 at 2:44 PM
"The tune she sang was NOT the same as other folk songs mentioned. it was more like doo wop."

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40. Azizi Powell, January 4, 2021 at 5:06 PM
"Katie Simons, thanks for sharing the example of "One Black, Two Black" that your mother taught you.

Thanks for also including demographic information about that example.

It seems that "One Black Two Black" used to be a rather commonly sung song."

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41. Anonymous, July 10, 2022 at 9:21 AM
"Katie Simons version is the same version my grandmother and mother sang except "chocolate to the bone, bone, bone, bone"."

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42. Azizi Powell, July 10, 2022 at 10:18 AM
"Thanks for your comment Anonymous.

I appreciate it."

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43. Anonymous, October 18, 2022 at 12:43 AM
"We learned the version that Laura offered in January 2014. We learned it at a predominantly white YWCA camp in Southern California in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s."

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44. Azizi Powell, October 18, 2022 at 8:37 AM
"Hello, Anonymous.

Thank you for sharing your memories of a version of "She's My One Black, Two Black" and thanks for adding demographic information for the folkloric record abou this song.

Best wishes!"

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45. Anonymous, November 7, 2023 at 3:38 PM
"My dad, born in the early 1920’s, sang this as a refrain/bridge in the middle of I’ve been workin’ on the railroad during my childhood in the 60’s & 70’s.

She’s my one, black, my two black

Honest goodness shoe black

Chocolate to the bone

Now if you see my gal a-walkin’ down the street

You better leave my gal alone

She’s got hair like a Jezebel

Teeth like a pearl

I’m tellin’ you boys she’s a gift to this world

She’s my one black, my two black

My honest goodness shoe black

Chocolate to the bone."

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46. Azizi Powell, November 7, 2023 at 8:59 PM
"Hello, Anonymous. Thanks for adding to the collection of folkloric record of examples and anecdotes about the She's My :One Black Two Black song". please add to note by sharing where you lived (city, state. nation if outside of the USA).and and racial information (your father's race). Also you wrote that he sang this in the middle of "I've been working on the railroad" song. Did he return to that song after singing the 'Chocolate to the bone" line?"

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47. Chuck, June 23, 2024 at 2:11 AM
"I also learned this song at YMCA camp in the mid 1960's. Our version was:

One black Two black eyes like shoe black

Chocolate to the bone

She's got eyes like a jezzabelle, teeth like a pearl

Gosh o gee she's a gift to this world

She's got One black Two black eyes like shoe black

Chocolate to the bone

Harmony, my baby harmony

first thing you do is you get 4 boys

next thing you do is you make a lot of noise

Harmony, my baby harmony

This is harmony, my baby harmony...yeah!"

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48. Azizi Powell, June 24, 2024 at 9:01 AM
"Hello, Chuck. Thanks for adding the version of "One Black Two Black: that you remember from the mid 1960s to this collection. I hadn't come across that version before.

It took me a while, but I finally guessed that "jezzabelle" is a respelling of the female Biblical Old Testament princess Jezebel.

Also, I wonder if the "Harmony, my baby harmony" verse in this example comes from a different rhyme. I've never come upon it before.

Best wishes!"

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49. Chuck, June 25, 2024 at 4:18 PM
"The spelling for jezzabelle came from my spell checker. I didn't have a clue how to spell it. I never saw the song written down. This was our favorite campfire song at Y camp.

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50. Azizi Powell, June 25, 2024 at 8:32 PM
"Hey, Chuck. thanks again for adding more info about this rhyme/song.

I think that spell checker got it wrong and "Jezebel" is the correct spelling fort hat female name. Here's an excerpt from an online page about the Biblical Queen "Jezebel":

https://study.com/academy/lesson/who-was-jezebel-biblical-story-characteristics-death.html
"Who was Jezebel's husband?

In the Jezebel Bible story, Jezebel's husband was King Ahab, the seventh King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Both Jezebel and her husband worshiped the Canaanite storm god Ba'al, which was why they were portrayed unfavorably in the Book of Kings.

What did Jezebel do in the Bible?

In the Jezebel Bible story, Jezebel was infamous for several things: persecuting the prophets of Yahweh, instituting worship of Ba'al in Israel, trying to have the prophet Elijah killed, and framing and executing Naboth to get his vineyard."

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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

 Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"She's My One Black, Two Black" Songs/Rhymes (Complete Reprint Of Comments From The Discussion Thread For The 2012 Pancocojams Post-#1-#26)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part series on versions of "She's My One Black, Two Black" songs and rhymes. "She's My One Black, Two Black" songs/rhymes have their source in the 1928 Blues song "Chocolate To The Bone".

This post is a reprint of #1-#26 of the comments that were published in the discussion thread for the 2012 pancocojams post about the camp song/children's rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black". Some of those comments include examples of the "One Black Two Black" camp song/children's rhymes.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/shes-my-one-black-two-black-complete.html for Part I of that pancocojams post. That post presents a complete reprint of the 2012 pancocojams post with the title "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/shes-my-one-black-two-black-songsrhymes.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post reprints comments  #27-#50 of the comments that were published in the discussion thread for  2012 pancocojams post. Some of those comments include examples of the 2012 pancocojams post with the title "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black".

The content of this post is presented for historical ,socio-cultural, and recreational purposes only.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks also to all these who are quoted in this post. 

****
COMPLETE REPRINT OF COMMENTS FROM THE 2012 PANCOCOJAMS POST FROM #1- #26
 These comments are reprinted as they appear in the discussion thread for the 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black"."

Because of replies, some of these comments skip from [for instance] 2013 to 2023.

I wrote most of the replies and a few of the other comments. My comments are given "as is" with no spelling or punctuation corrections and no additions.

Numbers are added for all of these comments for references purposes only.

1.Azizi Powell, December 4, 2012 at 6:22 PM
"With regard to the use of color references in children's songs, I think it's interesting that the Caribbean singing game "Brown Girl In The Ring" uses the color word "brown" and not "black".

I think that's because in the past and still in the present in Caribbean and in the United States, people of some African descent considered to be more acceptable to be called "brown" than to be called "black"."

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2. Anonymous, July 1, 2013 at 2:29 AM
"We sang this song when we were children (I am 73 now). Our rendition went: "Oh she's my one black, two black, honest to gawd shoe black, chocolate to the bone; and if you see that gal of mine you sho' bettah leave her alone; cause she's got eyes like a diamonds, teeth like a pearls, great gawd amighty shes a wonderful girl, cause she is one black, two black, honest to gawd shoeblack, chocolate to the bone.....you bettah leave her aloooooone."

We jazzed up, and sang it faster and faster as we repeated the verses, except "you bettah leave her aloooooone." That phrase was drawn out and harmonized."

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Reply
3. Azizi Powell, July 1, 2013 at 2:05 PM
"Thanks anonymous for sharing your memory of this song.

For the folkloric record, it would be great if you would share some demographical information such as how you learned this song, where [in what state] you learned this song, your race & gender and your recollection of whether this song was sung mostly by Black people and mostly by girls. Also, did you do any handclaps or jumpe rope while you sang this song?

Thanks again!"  

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4. Sheila, August 2, 2023 at 2:58 PM
"This is exactly How I remember the words of this song, taught to me from my father who was born in 1911 in Arkansas.. Except he said "gosh" instead of gawd. I'm 83 now, but remember it well because our family sang a lot when we traveled. Another song was "Georgia Pine" (pining for you). And, "Ole Mamie Riley" (gone far away...)"

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5. SheilaAugust 2, 2023 at 2:58 PM
This is exactly How I remember the words of this song, taught to me from my father who was born in 1911 in Arkansas.. Except he said "gosh" instead of gawd. I'm 83 now, but remember it well because our family sang a lot when we traveled. Another song was "Georgia Pine" (pining for you). And, "Ole Mamie Riley" (gone far away...)

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6. Azizi Powell, August 2, 2023 at 11:32 PM
:Hello, Sheila. Thanks for sharing your memories of this song along with demographic information. I don't know the other two songs that you mentioned, I found at least two songs with the words "pining for you" but I don't know if they're old enough to fit your memories and I found a mention of some troops marching while singing the chorus of "Ole Mamie Riley". I'd love more information about those songs.

Thanks again and best wishes!"

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7. Anna, December 14, 2013 at 2:04 AM
"Hello! I know this song!!! My mother sang it to me and told me only "It's the REAL ending to the railroad song." She first explained our heritage.

We are caucasian north Floridans, but in our history, we never owned or condoned slavery and worked plantation fields after we came here from England. My great-grandmother picked cotton to help provide for our family. Anywho, this is the version.

"She's a one black,two black,

honest to God shoe black

chocolate to the bone.

If you see my girl walkin' down the street

you better leave my girl alone.

She's got eyes like a jezebel

teeth like a pearl

Good Gosh almighty

she's a gift to this world.

She's a one black two black

honest to God shoe black

Chocolate to the bone

You better leave her alooooooooooone.

 

I used to play hand clapping games with my sister to this song. The hand clapping was to the beat on "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should".."

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8. Azizi Powell, December 14, 2013 at 8:11 AM
"Hi Anna!

Thanks for that version of "She's a one black,two black". Also, thanks for including demographical information and informaton about its tune & performance activity.

I'm curious, what was the year (decade) you learned this song from your mother, and how did she learn it?"

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9. Anna, December 14, 2013 at 2:10 AM
"I also learned a watermelon (watermelyon) song and many of the lyrics seem cleaned up... and only performed my white artists with no history of the origination."

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10. Azizi Powell,December 14, 2013 at 8:13 AM
"Hello, again.

What song was this- title at least, because as per the policy of this blog, I will delete any comment with pejorative words."

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11.  Azizi Powell, March 21, 2016 at 7:10 PM
"I'm re-reading this (March 21, 2016) and I hope that I didn't scare off Anna's reply. I'm sincerely curious about the "watermelon song" that she mentioned.

Please share, Anna. Thanks!"

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12. Anna, December 14, 2013 at 2:16 AM
"As white as I am, these song as close to my heart. They are part of me any my culture. Deeply engrained and unapologetically.... me."

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13. Azizi Powell, December 14, 2013 at 8:18 AM
"Greetings, Anna.

I can appreciate that some songs whicht may not be socially correct now are part of a person's fond memories of their childhood and/or their parents' and grandparents' childhood.

The question is should socially insensitive & therefore problematic songs* & rhymes be passed on to children, generation after generation without those songs being "cleaned up", if possible.

*I don't include "One Black Two Black" in the category of socially insensitive & therefore problematic songs."

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14.  AnonymousJanuary 12, 2014 at 7:52 PM
"Hi All,

This is the version I remember singing as a little girl:

 

She's a one black, a two black, a honey black a shoe black,

a chocolate to the bone, a boney boney bone,

If you see my sweety walkin' down the street, you better leave her a alone,

'cause she's got eyes like a jelly bean, teeth like a pearl,

good gosh O'mighty she's a gift to the world,

she's a one black a two black a honey black, a shoe black, a chocolate to the bone....yeah!"

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Reply
15. Azizi Powell, January 13, 2014 at 6:57 AM
"Greetings, Anonymous.

 Thanks for sharing that version of "One Black Two Black".

 I hope that you are reading this response and will post some demographical information for the folkloric record. I think it's particularly important to document if this song was sung by Black people to reaffirm their sense of esteem, and/or if it was sung by non-Black people (who may have heard it from Black people or not). I also think its important to document the decade and location that people sung their versions of this song.

Thanks again!"

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16. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 11:59 AM
"My name is Laura and my dad was just posting some original recordings of songs we learned from my great grandparents who were white, from England and came to America in the 1950's. One Black Two Black was one of our favorites, which I have taught to my kids. We sing it in 2 part harmony and it has a different part at the end. It goes:

She's Got One Black Two Black

Eyes like shoe black

Chocolate to the bone.

If you see that girl walkin down the street,

you better leave that girl alone.

She's got eyes like a jezebel, teeth like pearls

Gosh oh gee she's out of this world.

She's got one black two black eyes like shoe black

chocolate to the bone

Harmony, my baby harmony

first thing you do is you get 4 boys

next thing you do is you make a lot of noise

Harmony, my baby harmony

This is harmony, my baby harmony...yeah!"

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Reply
17. Azizi Powell, January 21, 2014 at 2:52 PM
"Hello, Laura. Thanks for your comment.

It's interesting that the line says "She's Got One Black Two Black

Eyes like shoe black". I think this was a way to make sense out of the song by those who didn't know that "black" and "chocolate to the bone" referred to Black people.

I wonder whether the Harmony verse was composed by someone in honor of their baby whose name was Harmony(and who had four brothers).

Thanks again!"

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18. UnknownFebruary 22, 2015 at 11:03 PM
"The version passed down to me - grandmother to mother to daughter (me) to my daughter and now granddaughter is almost exactly like the one above (including the 4 boys and harmony lines). The only line really different is - gosh, oh jeez, she's a gift to the world. I don't really know where my grandmother learned it, but she was born in 1923 in Nevada and lived in California most of her life. She was a "scout" leader and sung it around the campfire (for many years) at Camp Fire Girls' camps. We've always known it was referencing a Black girl, but thought it was celebrating her beauty and spunk."

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19. Azizi Powell, February 23, 2015 at 2:19 AM
"Greetings, Randy.

Thanks for sharing that information. I like the interpretation that you gave to that rhyme. I wish I had known it when I was growing up, and when my children were growing up. But it occurs to me that I can start a new tradition and share it with my grand daughter, and reinforce its meaning as celebrating a Black girl's beauty and spunk.

I love it!!"

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20. Anonymous, October 6, 2020 at 3:47 PM
"I learned this version at a (very white) girl scout camp in Colorado in the early 2000s. Someone had changed the word "girl" to "cow;" eventually another camper intuited what the original word was. After that, we all found it very sinister---we interpreted the "four boys" lines as being about an assault on the black woman described earlier in the song. That impression was (probably inadvertently) strengthened by whoever had decided that "cow" was a good substitute for "girl."

Thanks for collecting all this history, the memory of this song has haunted me for 20 years and I had always wondered about it. I last did a google search in 2010 and didn't turn anything up."

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21. Azizi Powell, October 6, 2020 at 8:25 PM
"anonymous Oct. 6, 2020

Thanks for adding to the folkloric record about the song "She's My One Black, Two Black" by sharing your memories of this song and also for remembering to share demographics (your gender, race, and where and when you learned this song).

I appreciate your comments about my collecting this history. I'm surprised there's not more information online about the "She's My One Black, Two Black Song".

Notice that one other person in this discussion thread remembers that the word "cow" was substituted for "girl" and also included the "Harmony..." verse. (Anonymous March 28, 2018 at 9:51 AM.

That commenter wrote that "I learned this song at a summer camp when I was 11 or 12. A female, white counselor around 18 yrs old taught it to us."...
-end of quote-

The commenter's noting that the counselor was "white" leads me to guess that that commenter isn't white, since White race is usually a default position in the United States (with people in the mainstream media assuming that people are White and only mentioning race or ethnicity (meaning Latinx) if the person or people aren't White.

Thanks again, Anonymous!"

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22. Azizi Powell, October 8, 2020 at 10:35 PM
"Here's a comment that was written by commenter Oct. 6, 2020 in response to mine. I deleted it because it contained a curse word that was fully spelled out. (As this is a family friendly blog, I only use and quote amended spelling for profanity.)

Anonymous, October 8, 2020 at 11:37 AM
"I saw that comment too, and it made me wonder if we had gone to the same camp that summer. I was about the same age when I learned the song; I don't remember exactly who taught it.

I'm also white; I noted race partly because I saw in the other comments you were interested in learning demographic information about who knew the song. That was also the summer I first learned that some white southerners are taught in school that the Civil War "wasn't about slavery, it was about states' rights." This is a f--ked* up country, we need to understand our history if we can ever hope to do better."
-end of quote-

Thanks again, Anonymous. I appreciate your inclusion of demographics in your comment as it adds to the folkloric record for that rhyme/song.

I also agree with your assessment of this nation and how it will (continue) to get better.

Best wishes, and stay safe!"

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23. Kim, December 8, 2014 at 7:20 PM
"I was taught this song by my mother, born 1927, in the mid 50's. She learned it from her mother, born in the 1880's in Arkansaw. I was taught as the ending to "I've Been Working on the Railroad" "

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24. Azizi Powell, December 8, 2014 at 7:58 PM
"Kim, thanks for sharing that demographical information.

I'm curious about your mother's racial demographics as a way of suggesting whether this song/verse was known by White people and Black peopl in Arkansas."

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25.Anonymous, March 10, 2015 at 3:01 PM
"I went to college in North Dakota and one of the fraternities sang this song. Their version was "she's my one black, two black, blacker than a shoe black, chocolate to the bone, if you see my baby walking down the street you better leave her alone. She's got eyes like a Jezebel, teeth like a pearl, man o man she's a whale of a girl, she's my one black, two black, blacker than a shoe black, chocolate to the bone."

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Reply
26. Azizi Powell, March 10, 2015 at 4:51 PM
"Thanks anonymous for sharing that version.

My assumption is that the fraternity members singing this song were White. Is that correct? And if so, what was the context in which that song was sung. Was it meant to be a put down of Black women?"

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"She's My One Black, Two Black" Songs (Complete Reprint Of The 2012 Pancocojams Post About This Song)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a three part series on "She's My One Black, Two Black" songs/rhymes. These songs/rhymes have their source in the 1928 Blues song "Chocolate To The Bone".

This post is a complete reprint of the 2012 pancocojams post with the title "Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/shes-my-one-black-two-black-complete_20.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents #1-#26 of the comments that were published for that 2012 pancocojams post. Most of those comments include examples of the "She's My One Black Two Black" song.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/shes-my-one-black-two-black-songsrhymes.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents #27-#50 of the comments that were published for that 2012 pancocojams post. Most of those comments include examples of the "She's My One Black Two Black" song.  

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural purposes, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Barbecue Bob for the 1928 Blues song "Chocolate To The Bone". Thanks also to all of these commenters who are quoted in this post. 

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COMPLETE REPRINT OF THIS PANCOCOJAMS POST 
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/examples-of-rhymesong-shes-my-one-black.html

Examples of & Comments About The Song And Rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black"

Edited by Azizi Powell

[Latest Revision: October 21, 2020]

This pancocojams post presents some examples of the old song and children's rhyme "She's My One Black, Two Black".

This pancocojams post also includes a YouTube sound file of the 1928  Blues song "Chocolate To The Bone" by Barbecue Bob. I believe that song is the primary source for the "chocolate to the bone" phrase that is found in versions of "She's One Black, Two Black" rhyme/song.

This post also includes references to the song "My Gals A Corker" (written in 1895).  I believe that song is a source for the rhyming descriptions that are found in the song "She's My One Black, Two Black".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/barbecue-bob-chocolate-to-bone-sound.html for the lyrics to "Chocolate To The Bone" as well as my comments about that Blues song.

My speculations about the meaning of the song "She's My One Black, Two Black" are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

FEATURED SOUND FILE
Barbecue Bob - Chocolate to the Bone



PreWarMusic, Uploaded on Nov 23, 2008

A song recorded by Barbecue Bob, the most successful musician who played in the Atlanta Blues style who's recording career was cut short by his premature death in 1931.

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EXAMPLES OF "SHE'S ONE BLACK TWO BLACK"
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
The only examples of "She's My One Black Two Black" that I have been able to find to date [2012] are those given below from two different Mudcat Cafe discussion threads (Mudcat is an online discussion forum for Folk & Blues music.)

These examples are presented in chronological order with the example that has the oldest posting date given first.

Example #1
"My father used to sing a variant of My Girl's a Corker.We think he learned it while at Georgia Military Academy (now Georgia Military College) in Milledgeville, Georgia in the 1940s.He may have learned it at Fort Benning, Georgia. He said they used it as a marching song. He has been gone now 8 years, and we occasionally think of that tune, but can't remember the rest of the words in his version. Anybody out there know?

I walk upon the track
She drives a Cadillac
I work both day and night
To keep her satisfied

......

Refrain

She's my one black, two black sure enough true black
Chocolate to the bone."
-Guest, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=57013 Origins: My Girl's a Corker, August 22, 2006
-snip-
This example includes made up verses that fit the pattern of the American song "My Girl's A Corker" with the "She's One Black Two Black" song/rhyme.

ADDED - October 21, 2020:
Here's an example of the song "My Girl's A Corker" followed by information about that song:

Subject: ADD Version: My Girl's a Corker

From: Abby Sale

Date: 20 Feb 03 - 09:29 PM

 

MY GIRL'S A CORKER

 My girl's a corker, she's a New Yorker

I buy her everything to keep her in style

She's got a pair of legs, just like two whiskey kegs

Hey boys, that's where my money goes-oes-oes

That's where my money goes, to buy my baby clothes

I buys her everything to keep her in style

She's worth her weight in gold, my coal black baby

Hey boys, that's where my money goes ...

When we go walkin', she does the talkin'

And when my arm's round her, how time does fly

She does the teasin', I do the sqeezin'

Hey boys,...

She's got a pair of eyes, just like two custard pies

And when she looks at me, I sure get a thrill

She's got a pair of lips, just like potato chips ...

She's got a pair of legs, just like two whiskey kegs

And when they knock together, oh what a sound

She's got a pair of hips, just like two battle ships

She's got a bulbous nose, just like a big red rose

And when the lights go out, it really does shine

She wears silk underwear, I wear my latest pair ...

 -end of quote-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Girl's a Corker

From: Joe Offer

Date: 07 May 03 - 02:15 AM

As I read Ewen's American Popular Songs, it appears that words and music were written by John Stromberg in 1895, and the original song title was "My Best Girls' a New Yorker (or, My Best Girl's a Corker)"

-snip-
Here's a response to Guest, August 22, 2006's post by Joe_F, (another commenter on that same discussion thread) wrote on 22 August 2006):
"Guest: That refrain is stolen from another song, which I could have sworn I had the text of, but now I can't find it. Anyway, it begins "She's got eyes like Jezebel, teeth like pearls". And "sure enough true black" used to be "honest-to-God shoe-black".

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Example #2
"My mom and I have been trying to remember the words to this song for months now. My uncle (her brother) taught it to me (us) when I was really young.
My mom thinks a section of the goes..."she's my one black, two black, honest to goodness shoe-black, chocolate to the bone...(then some more lyrics which we can't remember)then into "she wear's my bvd's, I stand outside and freeze, hey boys, that's where my money goes".
Has anyone ever heard of that version?
-Guest, deutschman3, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=57013 Origins: My Girl's a Corker, July 1, 2009
-snip-
This example includes another variant form of the American song "My Girl's A Corker."

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Example #3
To deutschman3
My mother used to sing this version:
She's my one black, two black, honest to goodness shoeblack, chocolate to the bone
If you see my gal walking down the street, you better leave her alone
She's got hair like a jezebel, teeth like pearls
Oh my lawd, she's a gift to the world...
etc.
that's all I remember but funny that just last week my sister was asking me if i remembered the words. if you think of any more please post.
-Guest, pnedwards, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=57013 Origins: My Girl's a CorkerSeptember 11, 2009
-snip-
In one last comment to date about "She's My One Black, Two Black" was made on that same Mudcat: My Girl's A Corker discussion thread, the commenter remembers that rhyme/song as "a kid's rhyme" that was heard without any "My Girl's A Corker" verses. [Q, July 16, 2009]

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Example #4
The song comes to me from somewhere in my past, I have no recollection but after the fe fi stuff I remember this.

She's my
one black
two black
shoe shine
shoe black
chocolate to the bone
if you see that gal
comin'
down the street
better leave that gal alone
she's got eyes like diamonds
teeth like pearls
guys don't cha mess
with that girl
she's my
one black
two black
shoe shine
shoe black
chocolate to the bone
-posted by Guest, rusty on http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=65298&messages=79 Origins: Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah, November 15, 2009 [Be aware that this Mudcat comment thread contains songs with lyrics that have the "n word" completely spelled out as do a number of other Mudcat folk music threads.]
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from https://newfangleddad.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-dark-history-of-ive-been-working-on.html "The dark history of "I've Been Working On The Railroad" February 20, 2014 by Newfangled Dad
..."In case you're super curious, there is also a missing verse [to “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad”] popular in FL and GA where the "fee fi fiddley-i-o" section substitutes for this:

She’s a one black, two black
Honest goodness shoe black
Chocolate to the bone
And if you see my gal
Walking down the street
You’d better leave my gal alone!
She’s got eyes like a jezebel
And teeth like a pearl
Goodness God gracious,
She’s a gift to the world."

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UPDATE: October 21, 2020- Another Example Of This Song

Here’s a version of the “She’s My One Black Two Black” song from http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/two-camp-songs--jane-bagby-1948.aspx

Two Camp Songs

by Jane Bagby

Hoosier Folklore, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Dec., 1948), pp. 126-127

TWO CAMP SONGS

By Jane Bagby

[...]

She's a One-Black, Two-Black

 

She's a one-black, two-black,

Honest to goodness shoe-black,

Chocolate to the bone.

 

And when you see my gal

Walkin' down the street,

You better leave my gal alone.

 

She's got eyes like Jezebel,

Teeth like a pearl,

Good Gosh a'mighty,

She's a gift to this world!

 

She's a one-black, two-black,

Honest to goodness shoe-black,

Chocolate to the bone.

(You'd better leave her alone !)

 

This is another song I heard at the same time and place,  summer of 1947 and Wyoming. The same two Virginian boys* [who shared another song on that page “ I Don't Want Your Greenback Dollar”] sang it and prompted us until we had learned the words. I have no idea of the origin of the song. The rhythm is syncopated and delayed, giving the effect of clapping the hands or tapping the feet.

 Hammond, Indiana

*Here’s information that was given about the contributor and the “Virginian boys” who taught her these two songs:

“Miss Bagby, a high school junior, sent the following two songs in foridentification. Asked to provide some description of the songs to aid in the identification, she supplied the accompanying notes. Hoosier Folklore's expert in songs and ballads could do no more with the songs than go along with the guess that the first sounds somewhat calypso and the second somewhat like a minstrel or game song.)

I heard this song on a ranch forty miles south of Rawlins,Wyoming. At first I thought it was from Virginia ; for it was sung by two Virginia boys with their guitar.”…

**** 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE LYRICS OF "SHE'S MY ONE BLACK, TWO BLACK"

As is the case with the source song "Chocolate To The Bone", the essence of "She's My One Black, Two Black" is a song whose lyrics in which the singer is proud of having Black skin or being Black (or at least, in the case of "She's My One Black, Two Black", is proud of knowing someone who has dark skin color.)

The phrase "shoe shine shoe black" means the color black that is as dark as black [color] shoe shine polish.

Another way of saying "chocolate to the bone" is "brown [or "black"] through and through". Technically, the opposite of "chocolate to the bone" is a person who is of mixed Black/non-Black racial heritage. However, in the United States- because any person with any degree of African racial ancestry is considered to be Black regardless how she or he looks- a person of mixed Black racial heritage could use and probably has used "chocolate to the bone" as a synonym for being part of the Black race.

Yet, it should be noted that still today in the United States, frequently Black children get "on a set" (get angry) if someone -including another Black person who may or may not be their same skin color- calls them "blackie".

The term "brown skin" is no longer used in Black songs or other cultural offerings. Indeed, people generally don't mention their race or another person's race in general conversation, which absolutely doesn't mean that that person's race isn't noted or guessed at if it doesn't appear to be clearly determined.

**
I wonder if the earliest words for "She's My One Black, Two Black" were these:

"She's my one and only Black [girl]."

The remaining words "Two Black, shoe shine shoe black" were probably created to serve as as a counting & rhyming sequence for jumping rope.*

****
POSSIBLE PERFORMANCE ACTIVITY FOR "SHE'S MY ONE BLACK, TWO BLACK" RHYME
I imagine that one girl or several girls jumped in the center of the rope while those turning the rope and other girls waiting their turn to jump recited the lyrics to this rhyme. One the words "One Black" the girl/s jumping would jump with one foot. On the words "two Black" the girl/s would jump with two feet. And on the words "sure enough true Black shoe shine shoe Black" the girls would show off some fancy jump movement.

This is only a guess. For the record (no pun intended), I should indicate that I've never heard about this rhyme before reading about it on Mudcat Cafe.

I suggest "jump rope" as the performance activity for this playground rhyme/song as, until about the end of the 1960s, groups jumping single and/or double Dutch rope were a very popular pastimes among African American girls under 13 years old. But after the 1950s and almost entirely by the end of the 1970s, the performance activity for jump rope rhymes [that were still sung] had changed to hand clap rhymes. Of course, new handclap rhymes (and, for a time in the 1980s and the early 1990s anyway) new foot stomping cheers- were created.

Also, in an attempt to revive the art of Double Dutch jump rope, that performance activity was organized by adults into a competitive sport, a sport that didn't include the recitation of rhymes. One unforeseen consequence of this is that in the United States few children play non-competitive jumping Double Dutch or single jump rope.

Click http://www.nationaldoubledutchleague.com/History.htm for information about the history of the Double Dutch sport.

****
A POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL SOURCE FOR A LINE IN VERSIONS OF THIS RHYME/SONG
I wonder if this verse from "Barbecue Blues", another Barbecue Bob song, influenced the "she's got eyes like diamonds/teeth like pearls" line in that "She's My One Black Two Black" rhyme:

"I know I ain't good looking : teeth don't shine like pearls
So glad : good looks don't take you through this world"

The entire lyrics for that song are found at http://www.maxilyrics.com/barbecue-bob-barbecue-blues-lyrics-26a4.html

****
ADDENDUM
I should clarify that I don't mean to imply that children who recited "She's My One Black, Two Black" knew what those words meant.* Nor do I mean to imply that all of the people or most of the people those who recited or sung this rhyme/song were Black. That said, given the words to this song and given the Blues song which I believe is its primary source, it's my strongly held opinion that "She's My One Black, Two Black" is of African American origin.

*Notice that I've used the past tense. I don't get the sense that this rhyme is still recited."

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the legacy of Bluesmen Barbecue Bob. Thanks also to the uploader of this sound file. Also, my thanks to those commenters from Mudcat Cafe who I quoted in this post.

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

U.S.A. For Africa - "We Are the World" And An Article Excerpt About Pluto Changing To Aquarius On Nov. 19, 2024

USAforAfricaVEVO, Apr 12, 2010

Music video by U.S.A. For Africa performing We Are the World. USA For Africa

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post celebrates Pluto changing from Capricorn to Aquarius by showcases this positive video and its lyrics and by providing an article excerpt about this major astrological shift.

This content is presented for historical, inspirational, motivational, astrological, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to all those who were associated with this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/1985-video-of-we-are-world-two-american.html for the 2017 pancocojams post entitled "1985 Video Of "We Are The World" & Two American Sign Language Videos Of "We Are The World" "

That post includes information about the song "We Are The World" and identifies the soloists and other singers in that 1985 performance.

****
LYRICS- WE ARE THE WORLD
(USA For Africa

Track 1 on We Are the World [album]

Producers: Quincy Jones & Michael Omartian

[Verse 1: Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers]

There comes a time when we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all

 

[Verse 2: Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel]

We can't go on pretending day by day

That someone, somewhere will soon make a change

We are all a part of God's great big family

And the truth, you know

Love is all we need

 

[Chorus: Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Both]

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

 

[Verse 3: Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson]

Well, send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares

And their lives will be stronger and free

As God has shown us by turning stone to bread

And so we all must lend a helping hand

 

[Chorus: Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall]

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

Oh, there's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

 

[Bridge: Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes]

When you're down and out, and there seems no hope at all

But if you just believe, there's no way we can fall

Well, well, well

Let us realize, oh, that a change can only come

When we stand together as one (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

 

[Chorus: Choir]

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

 

[Chorus: Choir, Bob Dylan]

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

[Chorus: Choir, Bob Dylan, & Ray Charles]

We are the world (We are the world)

We are the children (We are the children)

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving (So let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

Alright, let me hear you

 

[Chorus: Choir, Ray Charles]

We are the world (We are the world)

We are the children (Yeah, we are the children)

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving (Let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a finer day

Just you and me

Come on, y'all, let me hear you

 

[Chorus: Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen]

We are the world (We are the world)

We are the children (We are the children)

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving (So let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me, yeah, yeah

[Chorus: Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen]

We are the world (We are the world)

We are the children (We are the children)

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving (So let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

Yeah, we're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

[Chorus: Choir]

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

 

[Chorus: Choir]

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

Thank you

 

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we'll make a better day

Just you and me

Source- https://genius.com/Usa-for-africa-we-are-the-world-lyrics

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ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT PLUTO IN CAPRICORN AND PLUTO IN AQUARIUS
https://www.elle.com/horoscopes/a62697280/pluto-in-aquarius-horoscope-2024-explained/ "Pluto in Aquarius Could Change Everything" By The AstroTwins, Published: Oct 25, 2024
…."Since its discovery by telescope in 1930, Pluto has earned its place in astrological lore as the cosmic force of power, alchemy, mystery, and control. The icy, far-out dwarf planet became known during a time of global upheaval, just before the Great Depression and on the brink of World War II. From death to rebirth, destruction to regeneration, Pluto has been given domain over our most intense transitions. Because it’s so far away in space, it also governs things that are hard to see: secrets, scandals, hidden power structures.

….For the past 16 years, Pluto has been on a shadowy trek through authoritative Capricorn, the zodiac sign associated with government, banks, big business, and father figures (i.e. patriarchs). Ever since, it’s lifted the veil on some insidious truths.

Way back in 2008, Pluto marked its entrance into Capricorn with a massive mortgage crisis. Banks needed to be bailed out by the government, and the economy essentially crashed. But there was a glimmer of hope, too. The United States elected its first Black president, Barack Obama; the spirit of change was in the air.

Ah, but Pluto can be a trickster. The work was clearly not done; there was much more to be dredged up around toxic masculinity, in fact. The #MeToo movement went viral in 2017, bringing shocking takedowns of powerful men who seemed formerly impervious to reproach.

In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe and states stripped women of their reproductive rights. The same year, a groundbreaking revolt broke out in Iran, a response to the horrific death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the “morality” police. Women cut and burned their hair in the streets, and men protested alongside them. While this movement did not topple the regime, it did reveal the depths of global outrage at patriarchal oppression.

As Pluto makes its grand exit from Capricorn this November 19, we are a long way from being free of male-dominated systems and the powers behind them. But the cloak of invisibility has been lifted. This 16-year cycle has pulled back the curtain on how power operates. After November 19, Pluto won’t return to Capricorn for basically 250 years, but it’s certainly leaving its fingerprints behind.

What comes next? The answer lies in Pluto’s upcoming journey through Aquarius, a sign of revolution, innovation, and the collective. From November 19 to Jan. 19, 2044, Pluto will ignite a new era of transformation, one that could radically redefine power structures and usher in a future where equality and freedom take center stage.

Pluto’s return to Aquarius could usher in another wave of societal transformation, and astrologers already feel it brewing.

While that might seem like a far-off ideal, Pluto has been known to deliver extreme shifts when it enters a new sign. While Capricorn clings to tradition, Aquarius is all about breaking free from convention and embracing the future.

The last time Pluto moved through Aquarius was from 1778 to 1798, and the world went through seismic shifts, from the American Revolution to the French Revolution. This era also dovetailed with the early days of the Industrial Revolution, which completely changed how societies functioned as we replaced farmed and handcrafted goods with machine-made and processed ones.

Pluto’s return to Aquarius could usher in another wave of societal transformation, and astrologers already feel it brewing. There could be a push toward systems that are more egalitarian, tech-driven, and inclusive as we move away from top-down structures to a more collective, grassroots energy."

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