a colored girl had no days free

she cooked cleaned all year round

colored girl had no place to flee

she children duty bound

she took what work came and swept

had sweet sweet honeycombs

had to day work, night work, accept

had she babies at home

left them at cracking of daybreak

tripped home running the dark

left them with coughs and tummy aches

stumbled home running dark

took the late train, goodies in purse

turned the corner and smelled the flames

took the late bus, goodies in purse

turned the corner and smelled the flames

the babies' scents hung lynching air

sweet sweet honeycomb screams

the babies' scents hung in the air

sweet sweet honeycomb dreams

no need to cook the babies gone

no longer day works, night

no need to clean the babies gone

no longer day works, flight

sweet sweet babies gone