Oh don't cry my baby
Don't cry all the while
Don't cry my baby
Just give me a smile
Seen my daddy die in the war
Seen my mamma die cryin' for
Ring-a a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
A-ring-a a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
They call me a hounddog
They call me a swine
It's all because of my color
For their war though I'm fine
A-ring-ring a-ring-ring
But I've got to sing
A-ring-a a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
Dee dum dee day hey
Dum dah dah dee dum
Dee dum dee day hey
Dum dah dah dee dum
They're talkin' 'bout freedom
Of religion and race
But if you're a negro
They slap you in the face
Ring-a a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
A-ring-a a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
So what's the use fightin' for
That sacred democracy
When ku klux klan murd'rers
Are going scot-free
Ring-a a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
A-ring-ring a-ring-a
But I've got to sing
But I'm still happy
So don't cry, my babe
Together we'll strife for
Bein' free people some day
Oh ring, ring
So we've got to sing
Ring, ring
Together we will sing
Ih dum dah dah dee dum
Ih dum dah dah dee day
Ih dum dah dah dee dum
Ih dum dah dah dee day
Ih dum dah dah dee dee dum dum
Ih dum dah dah dee day yay
Ih dum dah dah dee dee dum dum
Ih dum dah dah dee day
Hum, huuuum huuuuuum
Hum, huuuum huuuuuum
Ih dum, ih dum
Ih dum, dah dah dee day, hey hey
Ih dum ih dum
Ih dum dah dah dee day
