Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bass-baritone voice. He is one of the few true basses in American music, his beautiful and powerful voice descending as low as a C below the bass clef. In addition to his stage performances, his renditions of old Negro spirituals were acclaimed; Robeson was the first to bring them to the concert stage.
Robeson's repertoire of African-American folk songs helped bring these to much wider attention both inside the US and abroad. Robeson also became interested in the folk music of the world; he came to be conversant with 20 languages, fluent or near fluent in 12. His standard repertoire after the 1920's included songs in many languages (e.g., Chinese, Russian, Yiddish, German, etc.).
Robeson was among the first performers to sing in concert on behalf of the U.S. World War II war effort. He sang and spoke out against racist conditions experienced by Asian and Black Americans; he condemned segregation in both the North and the South.
Like many intellectuals and artists of the time, Robeson supported the Soviet Union. After living as a second-class citizen under Jim Crow laws in the United States, what Robeson saw in the Soviet Union led him to believe that it was free of racial prejudice. In June 1949, Robeson visited the Soviet Union to sing in concert and was given a warm public welcome.
In 1950, after he refused to sign an affidavit that he was not a Communist, the U.S. government took away Robeson's passport and, with it, his freedom to travel outside the United States. The travel ban ended in 1958 when Robeson’s passport was returned to him after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Kent vs. Dulles, that the Secretary of State had no right to deny a passport or require any citizen to sign an affidavit because of his political beliefs. However, because of the controversy surrounding him, all of Paul Robeson's recordings and films were withdrawn from circulation. From then until the late 1970s, it became increasingly difficult in the United States to hear Robeson sing on records or on the radio, or to see any of his films, including the highly acclaimed and successful 1936 film version of Show Boat.
Welsh miners' organisations were among the most prominent international supporters of the campaign calling for the restoration of his passport and to Let Paul Robeson Sing!. When his passport was returned, Robeson traveled to Wales to appear at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale. He then performed at the Miners' Eisteddfod, fulfilling a promise he had made while prevented from traveling. In 1960, Robeson's final performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London included choral accompaniment from the Cwmbach Welsh male voice choir.
Robeson's association with Wales began in 1928 while he was performing in London in the musical Show Boat. There, he met a group of unemployed miners who had taken part in a "hunger march" from South Wales to protest their situation. During the 1930s, Robeson made several visits to Welsh mining areas, including performances in Cardiff, Neath and Aberdare. A number of Welsh artists have celebrated Robeson's life: The Manic Street Preachers' song "Let Robeson Sing" appears on the album Know Your Enemy.
Honey
Paul Robeson Lyrics
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Fragrant roses in bloom
Garden bench with just room for two
You are the she-ro, I am the he-ro
Love is prompting the play
Here's the cue where I say to you
Say you love me too, honey
No one else will do, honey,
Seems funny but it's true
Loved you from the start, honey
Bless your little heart, honey
Ev-ry day would be so sunny,
Honey with you.
One thing is certain, second at curtain
Shows a wedding in June,
And a sweet honeymoon for two
With your permission, no intermission
There's so much in my heart
And so much to impart to you.
I'm in love with you, honey
Say you love me too, honey
No one else will do, honey,
Seems funny but it's true
Loved you from the start, honey
Bless your little heart, honey
Ev-ry day would be so sunny,
Honey with you.
The song "Honey" by Paul Robeson is a romantic ballad that depicts a couple sitting on a garden bench on a moonlit June night surrounded by fragrant roses. The song is a love letter where the male protagonist takes on the role of the hero and the female protagonist as the heroine. As they sit on the bench, the male protagonist expresses his love for the woman and asks for her love in return. He proclaims that he has loved her from the start, and no one else can take her place in his heart. The couple plans a future together with a wedding in June and a sweet honeymoon.
The lyrics of the song highlight the romantic feelings shared by the couple as they spend a beautiful evening together. The moonlit night and the fragrance of roses create a dreamlike ambiance that prompts the couple to profess their love for each other. The use of words like "she-ro" and "he-ro" creates a dramatic effect and adds to the enchanting mood of the song. The chorus of the song repeats the word "honey" several times, making the song catchy and easy to remember.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Honey" reflect the beauty of love and the joy it brings to life. The song is a perfect example of how love can make everything seem sunny and bright.
Line by Line Meaning
Scene is a June night, flooded with moonlight
The night is beautiful and romantic, perfect for the confession of love.
Fragrant roses in bloom
The garden is in full bloom, just like the blossoming love between the two people.
Garden bench with just room for two
The setting is intimate, with only two people sharing the space.
You are the she-ro, I am the he-ro
Both individuals are equal in their love and admiration for each other.
Love is prompting the play
The passion between the two people is the driving force behind their interaction.
Here's the cue where I say to you
The moment has arrived for the declaration of love.
I'm in love with you, honey
The man openly confesses his love for the woman in a sweet and affectionate way.
Say you love me too, honey
The man asks for the confirmation of the woman's own love.
No one else will do, honey
The man proclaims that no one else can take the woman's place in his heart.
Seems funny but it's true
The idea of love may seem amusing, but it is genuine and authentic.
Loved you from the start, honey
The man has been in love with the woman from the beginning of their relationship.
Bless your little heart, honey
The man is fond and affectionate towards the woman, expressing his care and love.
Ev-ry day would be so sunny, Honey with you.
Being with the woman would bring joy and happiness every day to the man.
One thing is certain, second at curtain
The man is certain that their love story will lead to marriage.
Shows a wedding in June
The man envisions a beautiful wedding in the month of June.
And a sweet honeymoon for two
The man dreams of a romantic honeymoon spent with the woman he loves.
With your permission, no intermission
The man hopes to continue their love story without interruption, with the woman's consent.
There's so much in my heart
The man has a lot of emotions and feelings for the woman.
And so much to impart to you.
The man desires to share all his thoughts, love, and emotions with the woman.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alan Lomax, Bessie Jones, Richard Melville Hall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind