When Do I Get To Be Called A Man? (1955)

Before the Civil Rights Movement, a Black Man was always called "Boy." Never Sir. Ever. Can you imagine how humiliating that would be for a man to be called "Boy" in front of his wife or daughter?

When Do I Get to be Called a Man

by Big Bill Broonzy

When I was born into this world, this is what happened to me

I was never called a man, and now I'm fifty-three

I wonder when

I wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?

When Uncle Sam called me, I knowed I'd be called a real McCoy

But it was no different, they just called me soldier boy

I wonder when

I wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?

When I got back from overseas, that night we had a ball

But I met the boss the very next day, he said Boy get you some overalls

I wonder when

I wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?

I've worked on the farms, levee camps, and axer gangs too

But a Black man's a boy, don't care what he can do

I wonder when

I wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?

I was called a plough boy on a farm and a soldier boy in camp hill

Now I'm just old and gray and they just calls me Uncle Bill

I wonder when

I wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?

They said I was uneducated, my clothes was worn and torn

Now I've got a little education, but I'm a boy right on

I wonder when

I wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?