do you know what you are you are what you is you is what you am you ain t what you re not so see what you got you are what you is an that s all it tis a foolish young man from a middle class fam ly started singin the blues cause he thought it was manly now he talks like the kingfish from amos n andy he tells you that chitlins well they taste just like candy he thinks that he s got de whole thang down from the nivea lotion to de royal crown do you know what you are you are what you is you is what you am you ain t what you re not so see what you got you are what you is an that s all it tis a foolish young man of the negro persuasion devoted his life to become a caucasian he stopped eating pork he stopped eating greens he traded his dashiki for some jordache jeans he learned to play golf an he got a good score now he says to himself i ain t no nigger no more hey hey hey i don t understand you bwana ma coo bah would you please speak more clearly mercedes bainnnnnnnz who is who n what is what n why is this appropriot if you don t like what you has got drop it in the dirt n let it rot someone else will surely come n pick it up cause he wants some and when one day you wonder who you used to was n what you do you ll scratch your head n look around but what you lost will not be found do you know what you are you are what you is you is what you am a cow don t make a ham you ain t what you re not so see what you got you are what you is an that s all it is you are what you is and that s all it is you are what you is an that s all it is you are what you is an that s all it is you are what you is an that s all it is 