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 A 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 hound-dog They call me a swine It's all because of my colour For their war though I'm fine A ring a, a ring a, but I've got to sing A ring a, a ring a, but I've got to sing They're talkin' 'bout freedom, of religion and race But if you're a negro they slap you in the face A 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 to fightin' for that sacred democracy When the Ku Klux Klan murd'rers are going scot-free A ring a, a ring a, but I've got to sing A ring a, 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