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Black Rochelle Lyrics by Vance Gilbert

The Mother of Trouble

2023

[Verse 1]
I wish I had the tools back then
To see those fools for fools back then
And stand tall enough in my own black skin
When they rang the recess bell
See, I was part of that cartel of kids
That did that awful thing we did
Locking hands in a circle and shoutin'
"Hey look, it's Black Rochelle"
[Verse 2]
It's not like I didn't have a choice
I'm as guilty as those other girls and boys
With satisfaction at those silver tears
As down your face they fell
Didn't matter what they screamed or yelled
For once it was at someone else
Point a chubby light-skinned finger singin'
"Hey, look at Black Rochelle"
[Chorus]
I never had the chance to say I'm sorry
You never had the chance to tell me
To go on straight to hell
If I could take it back in time
What a different story I could tell
Oh, God bless the black of Black Rochelle
[Verse 3]
I've been punching bag and bully bait
Familiar with how they operate
A fat-ass sissy they could hate
Oh, I knew the blueprint well
But here my skin was lighter than
Like my black ended where yours began
License to join that loathsome clan
To call you Black Rochelle
[Chorus]
I never had the chance to say I'm sorry
You never had the chance to tell me
To go on straight to hell
If I could take it back in time
What a different story I could tell
Oh, God bless the black of Black Rochelle (Mmm)
[Verse 4]
Maybe you're a lawyer
Or a pentecostal minister
Supermodel, homemaker
Doctor or a judge
Maybe you have children
Sitting 'round your kitchen table
And each and every one you teach
To never hold a grudge
[Verse 5]
Maybe you've forgotten
Like the pages of a calendar
Comin' fast and flippin' past
Each one lookin' the same
Maybe you'll recall a boy
Caught up in that broken crowd
For fifty years still
Haunted by that name
[Chorus]
I never had the chance to say I'm sorry
You never had the chance to tell me
To go on straight to hell
If I could take it back in time
What a different story I could tell
Oh, God bless the black of Black Rochelle
Credits
Vance Gilbert

Vance Gilbert

About “Black Rochelle” by Vance Gilbert

Read the complete lyrics to "Black Rochelle" by Vance Gilbert from the album "The Mother of Trouble" in 2023. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Black Rochelle" is performed by Vance Gilbert. from the album "The Mother of Trouble" in 2023 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Black Rochelle", explore more songs by Vance Gilbert using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Black Rochelle" is credited to Vance Gilbert. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Black Rochelle" appears on "The Mother of Trouble" in 2023.

Visit the Vance Gilbert artist page at /artist/vance-gilbert for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.