by H. T. Tsiang
Chinaman, Laundryman
Language: English
"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. 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! 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! "The International Soviet Shall be his human race!" "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!
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Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
Text Authorship:
- by H. T. Tsiang , "Chinaman, Laundryman", from the Daily Worker, Aug. 15th, first published 1928 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ruth Crawford-Seeger (1901 - 1953), "Chinaman, Laundryman", 1932, from 2 Ricercare, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 93
Word count: 335