You Are What You Is - Live At Mudd Club, NYC, May 8, 1980

One, two!

Do you know what you are?
You are what you is
You is what you am
A cow don't make ham
You ain't what you're not
So, see what you got
You are what you is
And that's all it is

A foolish young man
From a middle class family
Started singing the blues
'Cause he thought it was manly
Now he talks like the Kingfish (Safie!)
From Amos 'n' Andy
(Holy mack'l dere, holy mack'l dere!)
He tells you that chitlins
Well, they taste just like candy

He thinks that he's got
The whole thing down
From the Nivea Lotion
To the Royal Crown

Do you know what you are?
You are what you is
You is what you am
A cow don't make ham
You ain't what you're not
So, see what you got
You are what you is
And that's all it is

A foolish young man
Of the Negro persuasion
Devoted his life
To become a Caucasian
He stopped eating pork
He stopped eating greens
He traded his dashiki (Uhuru!)
For some Jordache jeans

He learned to play golf
And got a good score
Now he says to himself
"I ain't no nigger no more!" (Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Do you know what you are?
You are what you is
You is what you am
A cow don't make ham
You ain't what you're not
So, see what you got
You are what you is
And that's all it is

You are what you is (no more)
And that's all it is (no more)
You are what you is (no more)
And that's all it is (no more)
You are what you is (no more)
And that's all it is (no more)

Alright, bring, bring the band on down behind me, boys
Alright, listen, this is also
It is also possible to dance to this if you use your imagination
The name of this song is: "You Didn't Try to Call Me"