Letter From May Alice Jeffers Lyrics - Small Fred

I'm an old woman typing 

Old as the year, seventy-eight 

Hear what I say 

I was born in Laurel, Mississippi, 

I live in North Carolina today 

With my grandson James. 

Now about the children 

I had five children before the Great Depression 

Five more since then. 

All of them are living now 

But the one that died in the war. 

All the rest had children, too. 

CHORUS: 

Don't blame the children 

Every girl, every boy, 

They ain't no burden, 

They're my pride and joy. 

I know they're beautiful 

Like leaves on a tree 

And as I am growing old 

They shelter me. 

I have worked at every kind of job 

Nursed people, preached, and sang 

When I was a young woman, I built roads 

I have not worked a job 

In nineteen years--my grandchildren 

Take care of me. 

Now listen to me 

Babies don't cause poverty 

'Cause poverty 

Is just people never paid enough for what we done. 

You hear them talk--barefoot and 

Pregnant. But I been barefoot 

Pregnant or not. 

CHORUS 

I have known socialists 

They stayed in my home in 1964 

For the vote drive 

They were like my children 

I don't care if they be black or white 

God bless you and all the socialists 

My first husband was a Methodist 

We did not drink but we did dance 

When we had our family picnic 

I think the white folks thought the colored 

Was taking over, there was so many, 

And the young men still ask me to dance. 

CHORUS