I, too sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes. But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll [be]1 at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed. -- [I, too, am America.]2
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Bonds: "sit"
2 omitted by Bonds.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "I, Too", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 64
Ich bin das arme Stiefkind, Sie schicken mich in die Küche essen, Wenn Gesellschaft kommt . . . Aber ich lache, Esse Und werde stark . . . Morgen Werd' ich am Tische sitzen, Wenn Gesellschaft kommt, Niemand wird wagen, Mir zu sagen: "Iß in der Küche!" Denn: Sie werden seh'n, Wie schön ich bin Und werden sich schämen, Denn auch ich, auch ich, bin Amerika!
Composition:
- Set to music by Kurt Pahlen (1907 - 2003), "Auch ich bin Amerika", subtitle: "nach Langston Hughes" [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a CD booklet
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Anna Nussbaum (d. 1931), "Auch ich bin Amerika"
Based on:
- a text in English by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "I, Too", appears in The Weary Blues, first published 1926
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Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-04
Line count: 17
Word count: 66