The dark-brown shade of my skin
Only adds colour to my tears
That splash against my hollow bones
That rocks my soul
Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew
Wondering why all my dreams never came true
Ooh! Is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me, what can I do
Oh something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?
In this world of no pity
I was raised in the ghetto city
You said, Momma, she worked so hard
To earn every penny
Oh Lord, something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
Like a child stealing his first piece of candy, and get caught
Thieving around life's corner somewhere I got lost
Oh, something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me what can I do
Will I survive, or will I die?
Oh it keeps on holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
The dark-brown shade of my skin
Only adds colour to my tears
That splash against my hollow bone
That rocks my soul, oh Lord!
Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew
Wondering why all my dreams never came true
Is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me, what can I do?
Oh something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
Oh something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?
Oh something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
Oh something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
Oh it keeps on holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
The dark-brown shade of my skin
Only adds colour to my tears
That splash against my hollow bone
That rocks my soul
Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew
Wondering why all my dreams never came true
Is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me, what can I do?
Oh something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?