Four Women
Four Women: A Tapestry of Strength, Identity, and Resilience
Lyrics
My skin is black
Describing the speaker's black skin.
My arms are long
Highlighting the length of the speaker's arms.
My hair is woolly
Describing the woolly texture of the speaker's hair.
My back is strong
Emphasizing the strength of the speaker's back.
Strong enough to take the pain
Expressing resilience in enduring pain.
Inflicted again and again
Reflecting on repeated suffering.
What do they call me?
Raising the question of the speaker's identity.
My name is Aunt Sarah
Identifying the speaker as Aunt Sarah, indicating a common identity.
My name is Aunt Sarah, Aunt Sarah
-My skin is yellow
Describing a yellow skin tone.
My hair is long
Emphasizing long hair and a sense of duality in belonging.
Between two worlds
Exploring a mixed heritage, belonging to two different worlds.
I do belong
-My daddy was rich and white
Detailing a complex familial history with racial implications.
Forced my Mama late one night
-What do they call me?
Identifying the speaker as Afronia, another facet of identity.
My name is Afronia
-My name is Afronia
Repeating the identity as Afronia.
My skin is tan
Describing a tan skin tone.
My hair is fine
Emphasizing fine hair and inviting physical features.
My hips invite you
-My mouth like wine
Presenting a narrative of being bought with money, questioning ownership.
Whose little girl am I?
-Anyone who has money to buy
-What do they call me?
Identifying the speaker as Sweet Thing, introducing a new persona.
My name is Sweet Thing
-I say my name is Sweet Thing
-My name is Sweet Thing
Repeating the identity as Sweet Thing.
My skin is brown
Describing brown skin.
My manner is tough
Highlighting a tough demeanor.
I'll kill the first fool I see
Expressing a willingness to resort to violence.
O’ my life has been rough
Reflecting on a challenging life.
I'm awfully bitter these days
Explaining bitterness due to the speaker's slave ancestry.
'Cause my parents were slaves
-What do they call me?
Identifying the speaker as Peaches, yet another facet of identity.
My name is Peaches
-I say my name is Peaches
-My name is Peaches
Repeating the identity as Peaches.
Ye…
Ending the narrative with "Ye…" suggesting continuation or reflection.
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