Ruby's shoes would take her
A mile or so to school every day
Where the white people hated her
They'd scream and hold signs and tell her to go awayBut Ruby's will was stronger
Than the bigots with the signs could ever know
She stopped every morning on the corner
And prayed that someday the pain would goAnd she'd stop and she'd pray
That all the hatred would go away
She was only six years old but she knew
Walk a mile in Ruby's shoesRuby sat alone in the classroom
She never dreamed the other children wouldn't come
They hated her for the color of her skin
Well color is such an amazing illusionShe'd stop and she'd pray
That all the hatred would go away
She was only six years old but she knew
Walk a mile in Ruby's shoesNow Ruby knew about Dorothy
And the ruby shoes that she wore
She wondered about Oz sometimes
Well, well no other child ever walked her shoes beforeAnd she'd stop and she'd pray
That all the hatred would go away
She was only six years old but she knew
Walk a mile in Ruby's shoesRuby, if birds can always fly
Why oh why can't you and I?Ruby's shoes would take her
A mile or so to school every day
Where the white people hated her
They'd scream and hold signs and tell her to go awayAnd she'd stop and she'd pray
That all the hatred would go away
She'd stop and she'd pray
That no other children would be raised this way
Ruby's shoesIf birds can fly
Then why oh why
If birds can fly then why oh why can't I