When I was born into this world, this is what happened to me I was never called a man, and now I'm fifty-three I wonder when I wonder when I wonder when will I get to be called a man Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three? When Uncle Sam called me, I knowed I'd be called a real McCoy But I got none of this, they just called me soldier boy I wonder when I wonder when I wonder when will I get to be called a man Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three? When I got back from overseas, that night we had a ball Next day I met the old boss, he said Boy get you some overalls I wonder when I wonder when I wonder when will I get to be called a man Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three? I've worked on the levee camps, and axer gangs too Black man's a boy, don't care what he can do I wonder when I wonder when I wonder when will I get to be called a man Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three? They aid I was uneducated, my clothes were dirty and torn Now I've got a little education, but I'm still a boy right on I wonder when I wonder when I wonder when will I get to be called a man Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?