Kinky Hair Blues by Una Marson (1937)
"Gwine find a beauty shop
Cause I ain't a belle.
Gwine find a beauty shop
Cause I ain't a belle.
The boys pass me by,
They say I'm not so swell.
See oder young gals
So slick and so smart
I just gwine die on de shelf
If I don't make a start
I hate that ironed hair
And dat bleaching skin
I hate that ironed hair
And dat bleaching skin,
But' I'll be all alone
If I don't fall in
Lord 'tis you did gie me
All dis kinky hair
'Tis you did gie me
All dis kinky hair
And I don't envy gals
Who got dose locks so fair
I like me black face,
And me kinky hair
I like me black face,
And me kinky hair
But nobody loves dem,
I jest don't tink it's fair
Now I's gwine press me hair
And bleach me skin
I gwine press me hair,
And bleach me skin.
What won't a gal do,
Some kinda man to win"
Kinky Hair Blues, Una Marson 1937
(discovered here
link)