Chinaman, Laundryman
Ruth Crawford Seeger| Original | Il testo originale della poesia di H. T. Tsiang |
| CHINAMAN, LAUNDRYMAN | CHINAMAN, LAUNDRYMAN |
| "Chinaman"! "Laundryman"! Don't call me "man"! I am worse than a slave. | "Chinaman"! "Laundryman"! Don't call me "man"! I am worse than a slave. |
| Wash! Wash! Why can I wash away The dirt of others' clothes But not the hatred of my heart? My skin is yellow, Does my yelow skin color the clothes? Why do you pay me less For the same work? Clever boss! You know How to scatter the seeds of hatred Among your ignorant slaves. | Wash! Wash! Why can I wash away The dirt of others' clothes But not the hatred of my heart? My skin is yellow, Does my yelow skin color the clothes? Why do you pay me less For the same work? Clever boss! You know How to scatter the seeds of hatred Among your ignorant slaves. |
| Iron! Iron! Why can I smooth away The wrinkle Of others' dresses But not the miseries of my heart? Why should I come to Arnerica To wash clothes? Do you think "Chinamen" in China Wear no dresses? | Iron! Iron! Why can I smooth away The wrinkle Of others' dresses But not the miseries of my heart? Why should I come to Arnerica To wash clothes? Do you think "Chinamen" in China Wear no dresses? |
| I came to America Three days after my marriage. When can I see her again? Only the almighty "Dollar" knows! | I came to America Three days after my marriage. When can I see her again? Only the almighty "Dollar" knows! |
| Dry! Dry! Why do clothes dry, But not my tears? I work Twelve hours a day, He pays Fifteen dollars a week. My boss says, "Chinaman, Go back to China, If you don't feel satisfied! There, Unlimited hours of toil: Two silver dollars a week, If You can find a job." Thank you, Boss, For you remind me. I know Bosses are robbers everywhere! Chinese boss says: "You Chinaman, Me Chinaman, Come work for me -- Work for your fellow countryman! By the way, You 'Wong', me 'Wong' -- Do we not belong to same family? Ha! ha! We are cousins! O yes! You 'Hai Shan', me 'Hai Shan', Do we not come from same district? O come work for me; I will treat you better!" GET away from here! What is the difference, When you comea to exploit me? | Dry! Dry! Why do clothes dry, But not my tears? I work Twelve hours a day, He pays Fifteen dollars a week. My boss says, "Chinaman, Go back to China, If you don't feel satisfied! There, Unlimited hours of toil: Two silver dollars a week, If You can find a job." Thank you, Boss, For you remind me. I know Bosses are robbers everywhere! Chinese boss says: "You Chinaman, Me Chinaman, Come work for me -- Work for your fellow countryman! By the way, You 'Wong', me 'Wong' -- Do we not belong to same family? Ha! ha! We are cousins! O yes! You 'Hai Shan', me 'Hai Shan', Do we not come from same district? O come work for me; I will treat you better!" GET away from here! What is the difference, When you comea to exploit me? |
| "Chinaman"! "Laundryman"! Don't call me "Chinaman"! Yes, I am a "Laundryman"! The workingman! Don't call me "Chinaman"! I am the Worldman! | "Chinaman"! "Laundryman"! Don't call me "Chinaman"! Yes, I am a "Laundryman"! The workingman! Don't call me "Chinaman"! I am the Worldman! "The International Soviet Shall be his human race!" |
| "Chinaman"! "Laundryman"! All you workingmen! Here is the brush Made of study Here is the soap Made of action. Let us all wash with the brush! Let us all Press with the iron! Wash! Brush! Dry! Iron! Then we shall have A clean world! | "Chinaman"! "Laundryman"! All you workingmen! Here is the brush Made of Marxism Here is the soap Made of Leninism. Let us all wash with the blood! Let us all Press with the iron! Wash! Brush! Dry! Iron! Then we shall have A clean world! |
