Susannahs Song by Joe Iconis Lyrics

[SUSANNAH (INMATES)]
My grandma gave me this yellow ukulele
Brought it back from Hawaii, summer 1958
Four years later and I’m pretty good at yellow ukulele

Now my grandma is dead and Hawaii is a state
So I thought it might be nice to take vacation to Hawaii
But I could not afford a ticket, so I took some pills instead
Now my bags are packed but I ain’t a-goin’ to Hawaii
I’m goin’ to juvie hall, to see about my head

Oh, Susannah, you’re gonna find a way
Oh, Susannah, to make it through the day
Believe me when I say it’s gonna be okay
It’s gonna be okay, hey, hey

[DIALOGUE]

And the state of things around here just worsens by the hour
And by here, I mean my bedroom, but America as well
I’m sweet sixteen, but Lordy, I feel a little sour
‘Cause I’m too Black to be indifferent, but too yellow to rebel
And in my chest, that dread begins to sprout
I make up songs in my head to tune it out
And as I feel that lump form in my throat
I just sing myself the lullaby that I wrote

Oh, Susannah, you’re gonna find a way
Oh, Susannah, to make it through the day
Believe me when I say it’s gonna be okay
It’s gonna be okay, hey, hey

Oh, Susannah, you’re gonna find a way (ha!)
Oh, Susannah, to make it through the day (ha!)
Believe me when I say it’s gonna be okay (eeeeee-)
It’s gonna be okay, hey, hey (-yah!)