An uplifting tune about life as a black woman during the times of racial segregation or inequality. "You been working so hard your whole life through
Tendin' other people's houses, Raisin' up their children too" is obviously a reference to black nannies or maids who worked for wealthy white families (perhaps not as slaves per-se but domestic help). The next line refers to the former maid/servant now being taken care of by her husband. He shows her a good time and that she is worthy of respect. "You've been in the background much too long" alludes to a life of being secondary to the wealthy. "You'll never win a beauty show, no, they won't pick you" again references the idea that black is not beauty and nobody will choose a black person as being the most beautiful.
An uplifting tune about life as a black woman during the times of racial segregation or inequality. "You been working so hard your whole life through Tendin' other people's houses, Raisin' up their children too" is obviously a reference to black nannies or maids who worked for wealthy white families (perhaps not as slaves per-se but domestic help). The next line refers to the former maid/servant now being taken care of by her husband. He shows her a good time and that she is worthy of respect. "You've been in the background much too long" alludes to a life of being secondary to the wealthy. "You'll never win a beauty show, no, they won't pick you" again references the idea that black is not beauty and nobody will choose a black person as being the most beautiful.