Rock Poetry Line by Line

"White Man, Black Man"

White Man, Black Man” -written by Dale Peters,

recorded by James Gang, from the album, Thirds, 1971.

As February draws to a close,

We look ahead to spring thaws,

Time to examine our souls

Assess ourselves and the roles

We play on earth to its good-

If we fall short, change we should.

.

White man, Black man
Listen to me
Hear what I've got to say
You've got to learn to live together
Right now
Right away
Before it's too late
Before it's too late
Black man forget the hate
That's been around so long
White man you've got to know
That sometimes you've been wrong
About your brother
'Cause he's a good man
You know he's just like you
The time's gonna come
The time's gonna come

Before it's too late
Before it's too late
Sometimes I get the feelin'
That it's never gonna end
When a brother
And a sister
Somehow become friends
To love each other

Is a good thing
And to know is to love
You've got to love one another        
You've got to learn to live together

.

“White Man, Black Man” is a deep track from Thirds, by James Gang,

the hit single of the album being “Walk Away.”  It was written by the

group’s bassist, Dale Peters.  In a Billboards review,

“White Man, Black Man” was cited as a “winner.”  Conversely, John

Mendelsohn in “Rolling Stone” called the song an “embarrassment in the

form of an overproduced plea for Greater Understanding between the

races so we can all Live Together.” And to think I once thought highly

enough of “Rolling Stone” to subscribe to it!

A die-hard soul music fan, I just love the wailing lead guitar, the sultry

bass, and the appearance of the famed women’s soul singing group,

The Sweet Inspirations, performing the strong gospel choir backup

vocals.

The music compliments the serious message delivered by the lyrics.

Peters appeals to the white man and the black man to “listen to me,

hear what I have to say.”  They have to “learn to live together right

now, right away, before it’s too late.”  Peters suggests an attitude

adjustment for both the black man and the white man.  The black man

must “forget the hate that’s been around so long.” The white man

needs to “know that sometimes you’ve been wrong…he’s a

good man…he’s just like you.”  He predicts, “the time’s gonna come.”

And suggests that it’s never going to end unless “a brother and sister

somehow become friends.” Because “to know is to love…You’ve

got to love one another, you’ve got to learn to live together.”

I hope all readers will enjoy this wonderful song and hear the

soulful message of decades ago that still resonates today.