Black Boys
Galt MacDermot/Tom Pierson Lyrics
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Chocolate flavored love
Licorice lips like candy
Keep my cocoa handy
I have such a sweet tooth
When it comes to love
Once I tried a diet
But I went nearly crazy
And I went clearly crazy
Because I really craved for
My chocolate flavored treats
Black boys are nutritious
Black boys fill me up
Black boys are so damn yummy
They satisfy my tummy
I have such a sweet tooth
When it comes to love
Black black black black black black black black
Black boys
The lyrics to Galt Macdermot's song "Black Boys" have been deemed controversial and have sparked discussions about race and sexuality. At first glance, the song appears to be a celebration of black men and their desirability. The lyrics describe the singer's love for black men, using food metaphors to describe their attractiveness. The singer refers to black boys as "delicious" and having "chocolate flavored love" with "licorice lips like candy." The singer also confesses to having a "sweet tooth" for love and craving black men despite trying to resist them.
However, the lyrics are not as simple as they may appear. The use of food metaphors to describe black men has a troubling history in American culture, as it has been used to objectify and dehumanize Black people. The lyrics also ignore the potential harm of fetishizing and reducing a group of people to a set of characteristics. The song's repetition of the word "black" also reinforces harmful stereotypes about black men's sexuality and reinforces the idea that they exist solely for the pleasure of white people.
Despite its problematic lyrics, "Black Boys" was written and produced by Galt MacDermot, a white Canadian composer who was known for his work in musical theatre. The song was featured in the popular Broadway musical "Hair" and was performed by a diverse cast, including Black actors. The musical itself was known for its progressive themes and was seen as a sign of the changing times of the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Black boys are delicious
I find Black boys attractive
Chocolate flavored love
They have a love that is rich like chocolate
Licorice lips like candy
Their lips are soft, sweet, and remind me of candy
Keep my cocoa handy
I always have a desire to be around Black boys
I have such a sweet tooth
I have a strong desire for something pleasurable
When it comes to love
I have a strong attraction towards Black boys when it comes to love
Once I tried a diet
I once attempted to stay away from Black boys
Of quiet, rest, no sweets
I attempted to avoid them by keeping a low profile
But I went nearly crazy
This attempt nearly drove me insane
And I went clearly crazy
I did go insane eventually
Because I really craved for
I was craving for something specific
My chocolate flavored treats
My love for Black boys was what I was craving for
Black boys are nutritious
Being around Black boys satisfies me
Black boys fill me up
They fill me up with positive emotions
Black boys are so damn yummy
I find Black boys very attractive
They satisfy my tummy
I find being around Black boys satisfying
Black black black black black black black black
The repetition emphasizes my love and attraction for Black boys
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Galt Mac Dermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind