The dark brown shades of my skin Only add color to my tears. That splash aganst my hollow bones, That rocks my soul. Looking back over my false dreams that I once knew. Wondering why my dreams never came true. Is it because I'm black... somebody tell me what can I do... Something is holding me back, Is it because I'm black? Something is holding me back, Is it because I'm black? In this world of no pitty I was raised in the ghetto of the city Momma she worked so hard To earn every penny, oh lord Something is holding me back cause... Is it because I'm black? Something is holding me back cause... Is it because I'm black? Like a child steeling his first piece of candy. that cost Even in my corner somewhere I got lost Something is holding me back I wonder... is it because I'm black? Somebody tell me what I can do Will I survive or will I die Keep on holdinig me back Keep on holding on Keep on picking on me Keep on holding me back Keep on holding on, keep on holding me back Keep on holding be back, I wonder why you do me like that But you keep on putting your foot on me But I've got a break a way, some how, some day, Cause I wanna be somebondy so bad, so so bad, I wanna be somebody. I wanna be somebody so bad. But something is holding me back Is it because I'm black, Is because I'm black, Is because I'm black? Something is holding me back, I want diamond rings and things.