From the recording A Salt and Battery

Lyrics

One Race, One Color

Surely, we live in a wondrous age!
Every turn of the page brings untold innovation
Our daily dose of Miracle™ changes the rules
And provides us the tools to build a Shiny, New World®
But, to my dismay, I must say, girls and boys
We haven’t matured quite as fast as our toys
To cut to the chase, here’s a word in the ear
To all those who remain, on this subject, unclear…

One race, one color!
The race is human and the color is the red that we all bleed
One hand reaching out to another
The tree of family will thrive if we nurture the seed

It’s hard to understand, though I know that it’s true
That some people still do judge a man by his color
No reason could be more superficial and shallow,
Irrelevant, callow, childish and inane!
You might as well hate for the shape of one’s nose
Revile the left-handed – despise crooked toes!
I have a suggestion for those challenged by hue –
Let’s take up a collection and buy them a clue!

One race, one color!
The race is human and the color is the red that we all bleed
One hand reaching out to another
The tree of family will thrive if we nurture the seed

This form of mental “worm”
Shows that evolution is a relative term
So temper pride, lest we forget
That man is a work in progress –
We’re not “there” yet

The world is growing smaller with each passing day
And the price that we pay for our foolishness rises
But a glance at our Yesterday brings hope for Tomorrow –
Take heart from the sorrow we have conquered so far
Our mission: Continue to grow and to learn,
To battle injustice at every turn
And look toward the day when this madness, at last,
Becomes the dim memory of an embarrassing past!

One race, one color!
The race is human and the color is the red that we all bleed
One hand reaching out to another
The tree of family will thrive if we nurture the seed
The tree of family will thrive if we nurture the seed
The race is human and the color is the red that we all bleed
And we all bleed, and we all bleed, and we all bleed…

© 2000 Robert M. Shaffer