John D. Loudermilk

Brown Girl

John D. Loudermilk


Back home, we got this great big old factory sittin' right in the middle of town 
And almost everybody in town works there 
Yeah, it's almost about like every other factory around there, I guess 
The white folks do the easier work and wear the white uniforms 
The colored folks do the hard labor and wear the blue uniforms 
This is the story about an old boy waiting outside the factory for his girl to get off work 
And the boy speaks...: 

Man, this sidewalk is hot; almost five o'clock 
Wait 'til that whistle blows and that door opens 
And out she'll come and fall in my arms 
Man when them folks see that 
They'll want to ride us out of town on a rail 
Well, I guess they just don't understand 
About my brown girl, my brown girl 
Brown girl, brown girl 
With the blue dress on 

She used to have a good job 
But you know, as soon as folks found out we's goin' together 
They handed her a broom and said 
"Here girl, keep things clean" 
But you know they just can't fire her, the union won't let them 
She's the highest payed sweeper in town 
And I'm the luckiest guy in the world 
'Cause I found brown girl, my brown girl 
Brown girl, brown girl 
With the blue dress on 

You know, all day long folks put her down 
Saying nasty things, making smart little remarks 
But she never cries, not until she's in my arms 
Why, even her own folks won't speak to her 
And at times, I bet her poor little heart is as blue as the uniform she wears 
Yep, when she gets off she'll be tired, but she'll smile 
Midst the sneers, the leers, and the jeers and the curse words 
She'll smile, 'cause you know love can conquer anything 
It can climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest ocean 
Bridge the widest gap, even between men's hearts 
Yep, love is the great cleanser 
Take an old pair of dungarees 
The more they're washed, the whiter they get 
Yeah, love conquers all, even hate 
I can't wait for my brown girl, my brown girl 
Brown girl, brown girl 
With the blue dress on 
She wears it well 
She wears it well