The Magic Mirror Tempts Lily’s White Daughter (1951)
Kirsty, Hannah, Jon, Salli, Brian, thanks for the kind words. Brian, yes it could.
And now for something a little different.
The Magic Mirror Tempts Lily’s White Daughter (1951)
You could pass............say the mirror............ fine comb slide............ through your hair slide
through your glory............ you could pass............and if sun don’t see your skin............you
could marry some white man............ have little white babies............if the sun don’t see
your skin............ You the fairest of them all
Fair is foul............Ruth tell the mirror............white right ain’t all it seem............I don’t want
no longhair glory............I don’t want no whitebread husband............I want Momma
rainbow babies............and if the sun don’t see my skin............then my eye don’t see the sun
foul is fair............she tell the mirror............take back your fog and filthy air
But they will take you............say the mirror............they will let you in they front door............you don’t need
no paper bag test............you got whiteness on your side............and they will take you
in they parlour............they will take you in they bedroom............they will seat you at they table
they will walk you down they aisle............ and you could pass say the mirror............ fine comb
slide right through your hair............why you don’t pass
Ruth say I is............ a woman who don’t care............ about no hair............no white skin save the Saviour
and no white skin save Ma Lily............death come knocking anyhow and............no fine comb save
my darling brother and when he bleed............ his blood run red just like............ a black man bleeding
and he dead............ just like a white man............ dead and so my skin and hair don’t............mean nothing
and comb............don’t resurrect the dead and skin............ return to blind earth............just like blood roll
to the ground............if the dirt don’t see no difference why should I
And then Ruth break the magic mirror
I am not as good as I think I am -- Scavella's mantra, Nov 2006