When my grandmother held me for the very first time
You can't see the world if your eyes are blind
And now I see
Don't give a damn what they say
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray
And I never gave a damn just what she meant
It doesn't matter anyway
What does it matter anyway
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray
You can't change a stubborn mind
On a humid summer night
What does it matter anyway
We're all just shades of gray
And her older brother cried as he gave her away
She thanked God I looked like my daddy
But I knew she was a little too happy
You can't see the world if your eyes are blind
You can't change a stubborn mind
But I knew she was a little too happy
She thanked God, I looked like my daddy
You can't see the world if your eyes are blind
They got married in a tiny chapel, 1965
Malcolm X was on the radio when he took her as his wife
Don't give a damn, don't give a damn
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray
And the minister looked like he didn't know what to say
And then he spoke
What does it matter anyway
And she looked so pretty that September day
Darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray
And now I see
You can't change a stubborn mind
And I never quite knew just what she meant
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of
We're all just shades of gray
And when my grandmother held me for the very first time
I came into the world by the setting sun
