| Out in the street, shufflin' feet | 
| Couples passin' two by two | 
| While here am I, left high and dry | 
| Black, and 'cause I’m black I’m blue | 
| Browns and yellers, all have fellers | 
| Gentlemen prefer them light | 
| Wish I could fade, can’t make the grade | 
| Nothing but dark days in sight | 
| Cold, empty bed, springs hard as lead | 
| Pains in my head, feel like old Ned | 
| What did I do to be so black and blue? | 
| No joys for me, no company | 
| Even the mouse ran from my house | 
| All my life through I’ve been so black and blue | 
| I’m white inside, it don’t help my case | 
| 'Cause I can’t hide, what is on my face, oh! | 
| I’m so forlorn, life’s just a thorn | 
| My heart is torn, why was I born? | 
| What did I do to be so black and blue? | 
| 'Cause you’re black, folks think you lack | 
| They laugh at you, and scorn you too | 
| What did I do to be so black and blue? | 
| When you are near, they laugh and sneer | 
| Set you aside and you’re denied | 
| What did I do to be so black and blue? | 
| How sad I am, each day I feel worse | 
| My mark of Ham seems to be a curse, oh | 
| How will it end? | 
| ain’t got a friend | 
| My only sin is my skin | 
| What did I do to be so black and blue? |