1. Strophe

The ink is black, the paper's white, 

together we learn, to read and write, to read and write.

A child is black, a child is white, 

the whole world looks upon a sight, a beautiful sight.

Bridge 1:

And now a child can understand,

that this is the law of all the land, all the land.

1. Refrain

The world is black, the world is white,

it turns by day, and then by night.

A child is black, a child is white, 

together they grow to see the light, to see the light.

Bridge 2:

And now at last we plainly see             

we'll have a dance of liberty, liberty.

2. Refrain

The world is black, the world is white,

it turns by day, and then by night.

A child is black, a child is white, 

the whole world looks upon a sight, a beautiful sight.

3. Refrain

The world is black, the world is white,

it turns by day, and then by night.

A child is black, a child is white, 

together they grow to see the light, to see the light.

4. Refrain

The world is black, the world is white,

it turns by day, and then by night.

A child is black, a child is white, 

the whole world looks upon a sight, a beautiful sight.

5. Refrain

The world is black, the world is white,

it turns by day, and then by night.

A child is black, a child is white, 

together they grow to see the light, to see the light.

Coda

(get it,   get it,       oh-oh,    yeah,      get up now! Round them up!

Hear the boys     and hear the girls, 

Heh, oh...)