Letter from May Alice Jeffers

[Verse 1]
I'm an old woman typing
Old as the year, seventy-eight
Hear what I say
I was born in Laurel, Mississippi
I live in North Carolina today
With my grandson James

[Verse 2]
Now about the children
I had five children before the great depression
Five more since then
All of them are living now
But the one that died in the war
All the rest had children, too

[Chorus]
Don't blame the children
Every girl, every boy
They ain't no burden
They're my pride and joy
I know they're beautiful
Like leaves on a tree
And as I am growing old
They shelter me

[Verse 3]
I have worked at every kind of job
Nursed people, preached, and sang
When I was a young woman I built roads
I have not worked a job
In nineteen years—my grandchildren
Take care of me

[Verse 4]
(Now listen to me)
Babies don't cause poverty
'Cause poverty
Is just people never paid enough for what we done
You hear them talk—barefoot and pregnant
I been barefoot
Pregnant or not

[Chorus]
Don't blame the children
Every girl, every boy
They ain't no burden
They're my pride and joy
I know they're beautiful
Like leaves on a tree
And as I am growing old
They shelter me

[Verse 5]
I have known socialists
They stayed in my home in 1964
For the vote drive
They were like my children
I don't care if they be black or white
God bless you and all the socialists

[Verse 6]
My first husband was a Methodist
We did not drink but we did dance
When we had our family picnic
I think the white folks thought the colored
Was taking over, there was so many
And the young men still ask me to dance

[Chorus]
Don't blame the children
Every girl, every boy
They ain't no burden
They're my pride and joy
I know they're beautiful
Like leaves on a tree
And as I am growing old
They shelter me