He held on to shadows
And made no apology
Learned early not to look directly
In any white man's eyes,
And certainly would not challenge
The sun or even the boss's son.
That's the way it was down there
Up here, anywhere one man
Puts himself up to lord over another
And force himself down on the women.

But this is no family secret
We know you got some white
Some time ago somewhere ago.
And now you're all messed up inside.