Brown Sugar
Rolling Stones [www.musikaki.blogspot.com] Lyrics

Gold Coast slave ship bound for cotton fields
This line refers to the history of how slaves were taken from Africa to America on slave ships to work on cotton fields.

Sold in a market down in New Orleans
The slaves were sold at a market located in New Orleans, a city that was known for its slave trade.

Scarred old slaver, know he's doing alright
The slave trader, who is described as old and scarred, is making a profit from the slave trade business despite the inhumane nature of his occupation.

Hear him whip the women just around midnight
The slave trader is described as being cruel to the women slaves by whipping them around midnight, which suggests that he may also be sexually abusing them.

Brown sugar, how come you taste so good?
The term 'brown sugar' is used to describe a black woman who is attractive and sexually desirable. The singer is expressing his desire for this particular woman.

Brown sugar, just like a young girl should, uh huh
The singer is comparing the woman to a young girl, which is a disturbing reference considering the history of African American women and girls being sexually exploited by white men during slavery and beyond.

Drums beating, cold English blood runs hot
The drums symbolize the African influence on music, while the 'cold English blood' refers to the white English people who have been conditioned to view African Americans as less than human. The line suggests that the drums awaken something primal in these people, making them overlook their biases and treat black people as equals.

Lady of the house wond'ring where it's gonna stop
The 'lady of the house' may be a white woman who is concerned about the influx of African Americans into her community, which leads her to ask where it will end.

House boy knows that he's doing alright
The 'house boy' is likely a black person who works as a servant in a white household. This line suggests that the house boy is content with his position and status, despite being in a subservient role.

You shoulda heard him just around midnight
This line is a repeat of an earlier line, and suggests that the house boy is also involved in the same sexual exploitation of black women as the slave trader.

Ah, get along
This line is a filler line that doesn't have any significant meaning.

Brown sugar, how come you taste so good, babe?
The singer is once again expressing his desire for the black woman described as 'brown sugar.'

Ah, got me feelin' now
This line is another filler line that doesn't add any significant meaning to the lyrics.

Brown sugar, just like a black girl should, yeah
Here, the singer is making it explicit that he is attracted to this black woman specifically because of her race and the cultural stereotypes associated with it.

Now, I bet your mama was a tent show queen
This line is a derogatory reference to the stereotype of black women who were entertainers in traveling circuses or carnivals, who were often objectified and sexually exploited.

And all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen
This line perpetuates the stereotype of black women as sexually promiscuous, and depicts underage sexual activity.

I'm no schoolboy, but I know what I like
The singer is expressing his attraction to the 'brown sugar' woman, suggesting that he is a grown man and knows what he wants in a sexual partner.

You shoulda heard me just around midnight
This is a repeat of an earlier line, and reinforces the idea of the singer's involvement in the sexual exploitation of black women.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, woo
These lines are filler lines that don't add much to the meaning of the lyrics.

How come you, how come you taste so good?
The repetition of this line further conveys the singer's desire for the black woman he is describing.

Just like a, just like a black girl should
Again, this line emphasizes the singer's attraction to the 'brown sugar' woman based on her race and the cultural stereotypes associated with it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, woo
Once again, these lines are just filler lines that don't add much to the meaning of the lyrics.