When

Creole babies from Manhattan,

Will be leaving Harlem if htey can,

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Louis Armstrong with his trumpet

Will be heading westward with his band,

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Harlem crooners with a swing will be singing at the studio,

Makes no difference if you can't sing, just say, "he-de-he-de-hi-de-ho!"

When they start to swing that rhythm

I'll be heading for that promised land,

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

You won't find them wing and bucking,

Everybody will be truckin'

It's gonna be grand,

When Hollywood goes black and tan!

The mayor of Harlem says he'll be there

To give those boys a helping hand,

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Old Bob Howard made a promise

To latch on to that baby grand,

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

When Hollywood goes black and tan!

Steppin Fetchit's gonna sing and dance like Fred Astaire,

Nina May don't have to sing 'cause she can be petit like Ina Claire.

Water's gonna do a fan dance

And shake the feathers off her fan,

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

Yeah, man! Oh, yeah, man!

Here's good news and it's the newest,

Braddock's going to meet Joe Louis,

It's gonna be grand,

When Hollywood goes black and tan!