I was an August baby
Conceived by the Christmas lights
I came into the world by the setting sun
On a humid summer night

When my grandmother held me for the very first time
She thanked God I looked like my daddy
And I never quite knew just what she meant
But I knew she was a little too happy
And now I see

You can't change a stubborn mind
You can't see the world if your eyes are blind
What does it matter anyway
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray

They got married in a tiny chapel, 1965
Malcolm X was on the radio when he took her as his wife
And she looked so pretty that September day
And her older brother cried as he gave her away
And the minister looked like he didn't know what to say
And then he spoke

You can't change a stubborn mind
You can't see the world if your eyes are blind
What does it matter anyway
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray

And when my grandmother held me for the very first time
She thanked God, I looked like my daddy
And I never gave a damn just what she meant
But I knew she was a little too happy
And now I see

You can't change a stubborn mind
You can't see the world if your eyes are blind
What does it matter anyway
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray
In our darkest hour, we're all just shades of

Darkest hour, we're all just shades of gray
It doesn't matter anyway
Don't give a damn, don't give a damn
Don't give a damn what they say

We're all just shades of gray
We're all just shades of gray
Shades of gray