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 However, because of the controversy surrounding him, all of Paul Robeson's recordings and films were withdrawn from circulation.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.
Passing By
Paul Robeson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'n bullyraggin',
'n criticizin',
'n call me pizen,
Ah ain't apologizin', no siree!
No matter what you say,
Ah still suits me.
De rag you're chewin'
Keep right on knockin',
Keep right on mockin',
Mah rockin' chair ain't rockin',
No sire!
No matter what you say,
Ah still suits me.
Does you ever wash the dishes?
Does you do the things I wishes?
Does you do dem?
No, you don't!
Will you do dem?
No, you won't!
When dere's any workin' to it
I'm de one dat's gotta do it!
When it's rainin' who's the feller
Uses up the whole umbreller?
Selfish as a man can be!
The lyrics of Paul Robeson's song Passing By are about defiance in the face of criticism and adversity. The opening lines suggest that the singer is being bullied and criticized, but he refuses to apologize and maintain that he still likes himself. The phrase "no matter what you say, ah still suits me" implies that the negative words and actions of others do not have the power to change his self-worth or identity. The second verse is a call-out to someone who is not pulling their weight in a domestic partnership, highlighting the unfair distribution of labor and resources between people. The singer is frustrated by the other's selfishness.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a message of self-love, resilience, and standing up against injustice. The repetition of "no matter what you say" reinforces the idea that other people's opinions do not define who we are or what we can achieve. The humorous tone of the lyrics also adds to the defiance, as if the singer is taunting their detractors, daring them to keep mocking and criticizing.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep on a-naggin', 'n bullyraggin', 'n criticizin', 'n call me pizen, Ah ain't apologizin', no siree!
Keep on being relentless and annoying with your criticisms and insults towards me because I'm not going to apologize for who I am.
No matter what you say, Ah still suits me.
Despite your negative opinions, I am comfortable and happy with myself.
De rag you're chewin' Mus' be a ruin, Keep right on knockin', Keep right on mockin',
The negative energy you hold and express will only ruin you, but please continue your mocking and insults as it won't affect me.
Mah rockin' chair ain't rockin', No sire! No matter what you say, Ah still suits me.
I am not moved or swayed by your insults, instead continuing to remain content and peaceful in my life.
Does you ever wash the dishes?
Do you ever do the household chores?
Does you do the things I wishes?
Do you ever fulfill my requests?
Does you do dem? No, you don't!
No, you do not fulfill my requests.
Will you do dem? No, you won't!
No, you won't fulfill my requests.
When dere's any workin' to it I'm de one dat's gotta do it!
When there's work to be done, it's always me who has to do it!
When it's rainin' who's the feller Uses up the whole umbreller?
When it's raining, who takes up all the space under the umbrella?
Selfish as a man can be!
You are extremely selfish and inconsiderate of others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marianbirch2825
Sang this at Highbury School, Bulwell, Nottingham 70 years ago. We were taught great songs. Music is still a big part of my life.
@saxondog2001
thank you .. absolutely beautiful
@stephenschwab9619
It is one of the most beautiful love songs I have ever heard.
@stephenschwab9619
I had that experience many years ago when I was a summer student at Columbia University. I saw the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I have dreamt about her repeatedly.