Colors
F. Michael Haynie Lyrics
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Andreo has a first name,
A-N-D-R-E-O . . .
Andreo has a second name,
N-I-K-O-L-A-O . . .
When people ask me for the longest name I ever knew,
I'll tell them what I know is true,
It's S-M-I-T-H-M-O-O-R-E-B-R-O . . .
"Pulverize the Color Barrier"?
Alan says that he loves
Everyone he may find;
But his love's just aesthetic;
It's all in his mind!
PAUL
I see Melanie, so romantic and light;
Hakeem's so romantic and dark, if that be spoken;
It's a shame that he's Black and she was born White;
By Pittman their pair will be surely upbroken!
HAKEEM
Ah, Pittman, what a principal,
An anachronistic shame;
We all know him and hate him,
They say the Nazis' hate is just the same.
PITTMAN
They say my racism is bad,
But isn't anti-racism, too?
BLUMBERG
Face it, it's not because you're racist,
It's because you're you!
SARAH
. . .R-I-T-A-A-U!
The lyrics to F. Michael Haynie's song Colors are rich with themes of identity, racism, and prejudice. The song highlights various characters in a school setting, including Andreo, Melanie, Paul, Hakeem, Pittman, and Blumberg, each expressing their experiences with race and societal pressure.
Sarah starts off the song by sharing Andreo's full name, highlighting how important it is to know someone's complete name to understand their identity. The use of spelling out the names brings attention to the importance of the individual's names but also captures the fun side of learning and remembering names. Melanie's verse speaks about Alan, who claims to love everyone but fails to see beyond the color of their skin. This shows how one's mind can still have prejudice even if they don't think they do.
Paul's verse describes Melanie and Hakeem's love, but society and Principal Pittman won't accept it due to their different skin tones. This shows the impact of societal racism on people's relationships and lives. Hakeem's verse takes aim at Principal Pittman, who holds outdated racist beliefs. The line "They say the Nazis' hate is just the same" suggests that even those who seem like they are just adhering to a misguided belief can cause significant harm. Pittman counters this by suggesting that anti-racism is just as bad, a view that Blumberg calls him out for in the final line.
Overall, the song Colors is a poignant commentary on racism and the impact it can have on people's lives. The song highlights the need for individuals to be seen for who they truly are, beyond the color of their skin, and the imperative for society to continue to fight against racism and prejudice.
Line by Line Meaning
Andreo has a first name,
A-N-D-R-E-O . . .
Sarah is spelling out the first name of someone she knows, which is Andreo.
Andreo has a second name,
N-I-K-O-L-A-O . . .
Sarah is spelling out the second name of Andreo, which is Nikolao.
When people ask me for the longest name I ever knew,
I'll tell them what I know is true,
It's S-M-I-T-H-M-O-O-R-E-B-R-O . . .
Sarah is saying that whenever someone asks her for the longest name she knows, she will tell them that it is SmithMooreBro.
"Pulverize the Color Barrier"?
Alan says that he loves
Everyone he may find;
But his love's just aesthetic;
It's all in his mind!
Melanie is questioning the validity of Alan's repeated statement to 'pulverize the color barrier' since she believes his love interests are only out of aesthetic reasons and not genuine caring for other individuals.
I see Melanie, so romantic and light;
Hakeem's so romantic and dark, if that be spoken;
It's a shame that he's Black and she was born White;
By Pittman their pair will be surely upbroken!
Paul is observing the stark contrast between Hakeem and Melanie's romantic styles and expresses his dissatisfaction with Pittman, who he believes will judge and separate the couple based on their differing racial backgrounds.
Ah, Pittman, what a principal,
An anachronistic shame;
We all know him and hate him,
They say the Nazis' hate is just the same.
Hakeem expresses his negative opinion of Pittman as being an outdated principal who promotes discrimination, stating that everyone is aware of his controversial beliefs and goes on to compare his persona to that of the Nazis'
They say my racism is bad,
But isn't anti-racism, too?
Pittman believes that anti-racism is just as 'bad' or extreme as racism and tells this to someone who has called out his racist behavior.
Face it, it's not because you're racist,
It's because you're you!
Blumberg is suggesting that Pittman's rude and abrasive personality is the reason why people may not like him, rather than his racism specifically.
. . .R-I-T-A-A-U!
Sarah is spelling out the name 'Rita Au'
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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