+ scroll down for Black and White by Greyhound
Australian singles chart:
Black and White entered the Australian singles chart* on 25 September 1972 and peaked at #21.
Album:
The song is on Seven Separate Fools which entered the Australian albums chart* on 11 December 1972 and peaked at #21.
Songwriters:
Earl Robinson, David I. Arkin
Producer:
Richard Podolor
Record label of Australian release:
Probe
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
BONUS TRACK BELOW – version by Greyhound
Songfacts:
An influential American folk singer named Earl Robinson wrote this in 1954 with lyricist David Arkin (who is the father of actor Alan Arkin). The song is about racism, and was inspired by a US Supreme Court ruling that segregation in public schools is illegal. The original folk song (but not Three Dog Night’s version) includes the line, “Their robes were black, their heads were white” which refers to the judges.
When Three Dog Night recorded this, it came at a time when civil rights was a big issue in America.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/three-dog-night/black-and-white
Lyrics:
The ink is black, the page is white
Together we learn to read and write
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight
A beautiful sight
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
Also on Bang a Gong by Three Dog Night:
An Old Fashioned Love Song
Joy to the World
Mama Told Me (Not To Come)
Shambala
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS CLIP
A number of other versions of Black and White were recorded, including one by British reggae band Greyhound. It entered the Australian singles chart* on 13 December 1971 and peaked at #88.
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