my soul’s tired
colored folks know what I mean
eyes sore and swollen
from witnessing your misdeeds
my feet burnin’ with pain
been walkin’ for miles goin’ insane
tryin’ to find truth and a world of gold
where life is love and peace is sold
my arms done grown heavy
carryin’ all this excess stuff
holdin’ up the world ain’t no joke -- and plus
my soul is tired
of being just plain colored folk
but I know tomorrow brings promise
of a new day and new hope
when maybe you can hear what I say
but tonite my heart grown heavy, the sky is gray
my breath is short and I can’ts run no more
my soul is tired
colored folk know what I mean