Which hat shall I wear, the red one or blue one?
Which hat shall I wear to the PTA?
The red hat’s becoming; the blue one’s a new one
Mary, come here. Tell me which do you say?

This afternoon’s meeting of our PTA
Is certain to be well attended
For we are protesting the ruling today
Of the way separate schools will be ended
Now Mary, you’ve worked for me over a year
By now you must certainly know
That I’m very fond of your people, my dear
And I don’t mind telling you so

I think it’s a pity my Jimmy can’t be
In school with his darker skinned brothers
With school integration I fully agree
And so do the rest of the mothers
But my little Jimmy is really too small
To ride to your school on a bus
And frankly, your people aren’t helping at all
Oh, why must there be such a fuss!

Oh dear, I must hurry and be on my way
There’s never a time for relaxing
Mary, the windows need washing today
And the hall and the foyer need waxing
I’ve left some dresses piled up on a chair
The cleaner is coming at two
Don’t let him take the green silk with a tear
That one, my dear, is for you