Four Women
Nnenna Freelon Lyrics


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My skin is black
My arms are long
My hair is woolly
My back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain
inflicted again and again
What do they call me
My name is AUNT SARAH
My name is Aunt Sarah

My skin is yellow
My hair is long
Between two worlds
I do belong
My father was rich and white
He forced my mother late one night
What do they call me
My name is SAFFRONIA
My name is Saffronia

My skin is tan
My hair is fine
My hips invite you
my mouth like wine
Whose little girl am I?
Anyone who has money to buy
What do they call me
My name is SWEET THING
My name is Sweet Thing

My skin is brown
my manner is tough
I'll kill the first mother I see
my life has been too rough
I'm awfully bitter these days
because my parents were slaves




What do they call me
My name is PEACHES

Overall Meaning

Nnenna Freelon's "Four Women" is a poignant and powerful song that provides social commentary on the lives of four African American women: Aunt Sarah, Saffronia, Sweet Thing, and Peaches. These women represent different experiences and realities of black identity, oppression, racism, and sexism in American society.


Aunt Sarah's verse highlights the physical strength of black women who have endured years of physical pain and abuse at the hands of their oppressors. Her name suggests that she is an elder woman in the African American community, who has seen the atrocities of slavery firsthand.


Saffronia, on the other hand, represents the plight of mixed-race individuals in a society that often struggled to accept them. Her name evokes a sense of exoticism and otherness that many black Americans experienced in American society.


Sweet Thing is a young woman who symbolizes the commodification of black female bodies in a capitalist society. The fact that she asks, "Whose little girl am I? Anyone who has money to buy" highlights the deeply ingrained idea that black women were viewed as property to be bought and sold.


Finally, Peaches represents the relentless anger and bitterness that many black women experienced as a result of their continued oppression. Her verse speaks to the fact that many of her ancestors were enslaved, and that she has inherited this legacy of pain and trauma.


Overall, Nnenna Freelon's "Four Women" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that sheds light on the experiences of black women in America. It highlights the complexity and diversity of the African American experience and the ongoing struggle for equality and social justice.


Line by Line Meaning

My skin is black
I am a black person, and my identity is molded by the color of my skin


My arms are long
I possess the strength and resilience to face the constantly pervasive discrimination


My hair is woolly
My hair’s texture is an indicator of my race, and I take pride in the same


My back is strong
I can withstand the continuous oppression and subjugation, which tests my inner strength


Strong enough to take the pain
I am strong enough to endure the pain that's inflicted upon me over and over again.


inflicted again and again
I experience pain and trauma from the mistreatment I receive on account of my skin color.


What do they call me
People label me according to their preconceived notions and stereotypes, without attempting to understand my truth.


My name is AUNT SARAH
Aunt Sarah is the name by which I am recognized, irrespective of who I am as a person


My skin is yellow
The color of my skin is yellow, and my mixed-race identity makes me a person who is between two worlds


My hair is long
My hair is my pride, and it is a reminder of my ancestry and race


Between two worlds
I belong to two different communities, and it is a struggle to find my place in both of them


I do belong
Even though I struggle to find a sense of belonging, I am a part of these worlds, and they are also a part of me


My father was rich and white
My father belonged to a privileged class, with a skin color that was different from mine


He forced my mother late one night
My mother was a victim of violence and coercion when she was forced into an intimate relationship


My name is SAFFRONIA
Saffronia is the name by which I am known, which is not entirely representative of who I am as an individual


My skin is tan
The color of my skin is tan, which has its roots in my ancestry and heritage


My hair is fine
My hair has a soft and delicate texture, and I am proud of it


My hips invite you
I am a woman who has a seductive body that invites unwanted attention and harassment


my mouth like wine
My words have a sweetness to them and can charm those who listen


Whose little girl am I?
I am a young girl who is not in control of her own destiny and is dependent on whoever has the power and money to claim me


Anyone who has money to buy
My worth is tied to my ability to be bought, which is a painful reality of my existence


My name is SWEET THING
Sweet Thing is the name I go by, which objectifies and strips me of any real identity or autonomy


My skin is brown
The color of my skin is brown, which is a result of my ancestry and cultural heritage


my manner is tough
I am a person who has grown resilient and hardened due to my difficult life experiences


I'll kill the first mother I see
I am filled with rage and anger over the injustice I have faced, which can turn to violence


my life has been too rough
The difficulties in my life have been overwhelming and have taken a toll on my mental and emotional health


I'm awfully bitter these days
My experiences have made me feel bitter and resentful towards society and the people who have oppressed me


because my parents were slaves
The legacy of slavery has been passed down to me, and it has shaped my reality and life experiences


What do they call me
Society describes me with negative and derogatory labels, which are untrue and hurtful


My name is PEACHES
People call me Peaches, which is another example of how society objectifies and dehumanizes me




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NINA SIMONE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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