Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child-Paul Robeson

[SoulfulBrutha5805]

Pretty much THE bass a guy like me got to model himself after. Dude's voice was made of raw passion and innards shaking depth.

[FelixArie11]

i can sing like paul that is i copy his voice he is my mentor

[varadero1839]

@FelixArie11 Thank you for writing! I would be honored to hear you. More important, I'm very grateful for your comment. Mr. Robeson was a genius!

[RammsteinMeinTeil199]

I've heard this song in a soviet animated propaganda. I love his voice!

[sonyahannah]

Sickening to learn that Robeson was a victim of McCarthy's paranoia -- Robeson's fate illustrates the dangers inherent in electing any sort of zealot to high office -- ESPECIALLY dangerous to consider such a zealot as President.

[pekhambanerjee]

'one man army' i think it will be the right difinition of our man PAUL ROBESON.his song is the song of the people in trouble {all over world}

[MisterTusk]

Paul Robeson never refused to admit he was a communist. He was a comrade of mine and unashamed to tell the world.

[gcpropertymanagement]

A great American and a great voice. Thanks for posting this beautiful performance.

[varadero1839]

@gcpropertymanagement You're welcome, and thank you for your kind mention!

[NAI917RAH]

I sang this when I went to UA (Alabama). When I discovered this version, this easily became the best tool to help me study. I couldn't get enough then, and I can't NOW! I don't know any other version that can come close to the chilling bass vocal dream of PAUL ROBESON!

[varadero1839]

@NAI917RAH He's a hard act to follow, but I'm sure you handled yourself admirably! Just aspiring to his version makes you a winner! Thanks so much for your comment, and I wish you continued good luck!

[abark]

I can't get this loud enough. Or long enough

[ChocolateAndCheese1]

phenomenal voice! my father used to sing this at open mics when i was a child. i remember it being so emotional and beautiful. i never knew it was not an original until about 2 years ago when i stumbled upon this song and I was completely blown away! Cheers.

[varadero1839]

@ChocolateAndCheese1 Right now I'm kind of shivering! Can only imagine your pride at seeing your father sing this classic! What a thrill for you! Kindly continue to look for other winners by Mr. Robeson. His genius never seemed to recognize any borders. Your mention is a tribute to your father. Thanks so much!

[lawes7276]

superb and a truly great person

[amunra71]

This man's voice sinks in your gut & from there it spreads to fill your spirit

[bellacnella18]

wonderful. way better than any modern day version. classic!!! brava!

[seaconfused]

Magnificent!!!

[varadero1839]

@seaconfused I'm so honored by your comment! Mr. Robeson was a unique talent. We're not likely to see, hear or know of such a genius again. Best wishes, and thank you so much.

[seaconfused]

@varadero1839 Thank you. I'm just starting to learn about Mr. Robeson. I'm from Greece, so I don't know many things about him. I "discovered" him because of my obsession for Mr. Avery Brooks :)

I'm greatfull for/to both of them :)

[varadero1839]

@seaconfused Hi seaconfused! Maybe it's just me, but the more you learn about Mr. Paul Robeson, the more you will be astounded. In the past I had many more of his performances here, but they're gone now. I've seen Mr. Brooks in many productions and I think he's a superb actor. Again, as you research Mr. Robeson I think you'll be really surprised as to his range. If one were to drop his acting and singing, his resumé, related to his law/sports career, would have made him even more amazing!

[seaconfused]

@varadero1839 I surely will continue my research about Mr. Robeson! And I am very envious of you for seeing Mr. Brooks on stage. He performed "Oedipus" in Athens in 2003 but I didn't knew that then :(

[MrVampiredog]

LOVE THAT MAN

[varadero1839]

@MrVampiredog Thanks so much for your comment! Watching him act, and hearing him sing made me an accomplice in the pretty much world-wide appreciation of his abilities!

[anaamaro70]

i always cry when i hear this painfull song, sometimes i feel that loneliness. Never heard this version and it felt like i was hearing every cry of every lonely people the

ones who lost their parents, their sons and daughters, their pet animals.

It was like hearing an angel crying.

[varadero1839]

@anaamaro70 I'm grateful for your mention, and moved by your reaction to this. It does seem to have a way of "cutting to the chase" of many of us as regards our reactions to the loss of loved ones. Thank you so much for your comment.

[cassandra5322]

THAT. VOICE.

[Singapom888]

Paul Robeson saw his mother die in a fire when he was aged 6: listen to this song knowing that - chills up and down the spine...

[kranglekryp]

The choir arrangement for this song, and the execution of it, is simply breathtaking!

[varadero1839]

@kranglekryp Delighted that you enjoyed this. Don't know the name of the choral group who accompanied Mr. Robeson, but they were excellent! Thanks again for your comment.

[kwilly54]

@kranglekryp God Bless You For Making That Brilliant Obsevation

[mkworkman]

2:50 video: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child sung by Paul Robeson.

Paul Leroy Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an African-American concert singer (bass-baritone), recording artist, athlete and actor who became noted for his political radicalism and activism in the civil rights movement.

[MasterBlaster160]

I just can't believe that today, the day I knew Paul Robeson, its his birthday

[djwynyard]

Paul Robeson is my favourite singer. No one comes close. He is the best.

[ThePharaoho]

A Genius!

[Nannooskeeska]

I sang this for solo and ensemble and made it to state. I used this video as inspiration to keep practicing. Paul Robeson was an amazing man.

[painpopping]

@Nannooskeeska congratz on making it to state

[gordbard]

My mother introduced me to Paul Robeson and Mahalia Jackson in the 1950's when I was just a wee lad. I will be eternally grateful to her for it.

[queenie42ify]

it seems like when you look into the eyes of people from those days on pictures there's a story waiting and wanting to be told and their eyes tell it

[varadero1839]

@queenie42ify And the story of Mr. Robeson could fill volumes! Thank you so much for your insightful comment!

[leetheglee3523]

@queenie42ify /it's being told now. check out v1 STATION1 AND OWN (oprahs own tv station and more . we have to stand fast as afroamericans. lol

[infodoc1]

To say that his voice gives me chills is an understatement... it's more like waves of emotion going through me

[ThePharaoho]

I think Paul Robeson was the greatest man that ever lived.

[limoboy3]

I heard this song in a communist propaganda video of the u.s occupation of Cuba, depicting the atrocities and barbaric plantation owners on the condition of black cubans. Being white its hard to conceptualize those days, however at any attempt this lament is one of the saddest ive ever heard.

[Trottellumme123]

@limoboy3 yes, one of the saddest, but one of the most beautiful as well.

[snakemansnakes1]

I had forgotten how good this song is! Beautiful, from a very dignified gentleman with a wonderful voice. Takes me back to my strange childhood.. My father was a Liverpool racist yet he could sing every Paul Robeson song, I learned lots of songs from my father but never learnt racism.

[varadero1839]

@snakemansnakes1 Given the good things you learned from your father, I suspect, given half a chance he probably wouldn't have really been a racist. Guess many of us are formed by our surroundings; your intellect never let you down. You learned "not" to learn racism! We're in the same boat. I'm really pleased to hear from you! Thank you!

[peoplesrepub0fEmily]

*choked*--i don't cry v.often (this is not a good thing--for me at least), but THAT voice..he just touches me so V.deeply. a TRULY great man, and socialist, who's beliefs were *driven by* empathy, decency and self-respect--so, he had flaws and blind spots..do you think that you don't?

[UnionShen]

Fantastic, thank you for uploading

[varadero1839]

@UnionShen Grateful to hear from you, and thank you for your compliment! Happy New Year!

[KaraokeSC]

I am a 60+ white guy, fortunate to have been raised "color blind" & to have listened to Paul since the 50s. Paul's lyric version "Old Man River" was the first song I sang as a performance. The music of his many songs speaks volumes about dealing with adversity.

Be it slave masters, weather, cancer, or any other source, there are things outside of our control. The character of his music fits with the saying:

Pain and suffering are inevitable; misery is optional

Love long, Love strong

[hswatnik]

very fine-

[varadero1839]

@hswatnik Thank you for your kind comment. Good to hear from another knowledgeable fan of Mr. Robeson!

[docterphreak]

So THIS is what Othello does when he's not fighting The Turk!

[darkzac]

A great man communist or socialist who cares I thought McCarthyism was over in the USA? lol you guys some of you yanks call Obama a socialist and Kennedy a liberal ;) This man touched the hearts of the world and actively fort oppression strived to change it a true HERO. My grandmother spoke fondly of him after meeting him when he was in the u.k he made a lasting impression which she passed on to me. Paul Robeson a Great Man.

[DinaanBumm]

he admitted to being a communist thats why it was taken away from him he was opnely communist thats why he had to leave

[dsmith1731]

@DinaanBumm --HE NEVER ADMITTED TO BEING THAT!!! THE RED SCARE DID HIM IN!!

[DinaanBumm]

@dsmith1731 nah he was openly a communist

[11777766]

Paul Robeson was an amazing black American whose career was blighted by his sympathy re oppression of people of color everywhere. He certainly was a towering man of talent, like W.E.B Du Bois, and left a great legacy to us in his films.

[varadero1839]

@11777766 Very few today could compare to Mr. Robeson and his amazing talent, his activism, and much less "that voice!" Thanks so much my friend, for your comment!

[KMCReading]

You know, I find it interesting that my first exposure to this song was through an old soviet cartoon depicting the hardships of African Americans, and how "The Land of the Free" really wasn't that "free" at all... The cartoon was pretty disturbing too, no dialogue, just visions of hardship and opression, there was even a small black skeleton hanging from the back window of a plantation owners' car, and then Africans hung on all the telephone poles... Even needless electrecutions, really bad....

[unoriginal95]

@KMCReading I found out about this song the same way, the video you're talking about though is "Black & White" By Ivanov-Vano. Funny though that I actually found out about him through family.

[rivka614]

I remember hearing Mr. Robeson sing Old Man River as a little girl. His music can stir the soul. Thank you for many hours of listening. May G-D grant you eternal rest. And forgive the mere mortals who did you injustice.

[commissarusa]

His recording of this song was used in an animated Soviet propaganda reel called "Black and White" about the conditions of blacks in America. That reel was one of the most disturbing things I've seen in animation, and the images accented the music so perfectly. It was made I think in about the same era as this recording.

[HowlinWilf13]

Aah, beautiful!

I grew up listening to my mum's Paul Robeson records, and now I play them for my own children.

[musicfanBRA]

One of the very first songs I listened to when I was a child, also Old Man River with Paul Robeson. His voice made me be a lifelong fan of music, of black people, of freedom and justice for all

[varadero1839]

@musicfanBRA Thank you musicfanBRA! Muito obrigado! I suspect Mr. Robeson had, and will always have that effect on his listeners! I felt, and feel as you do. Only my opinion, but this is only one of his finest moments ever recorded. Thanks again!

[Hugs4Michael]

Thank you for this. So many memories of my childhood are stirred up when I hear Paul Robeson sing. I used to watch old movies with my parents and they loved the ones with Paul Robeson in so I got to know of him from an early age. Such a warm and soulful voice. Can't remember the names of the films now but there were a few and I loved them, even though some made me cry because they were a bit sad.

[zuzu240]

what a moving song i hope this is m one day

[rnardin1]

♥ ♥

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪♪♫•*¨*•.¸­¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*­•♫♪I love this version. I can feel the emotion within this song,

[UltraBibendum]

What year was this?

[spritjoggle]

@UltraBibendum It was recorded by Vanguard in 1958, about the same time as the Carnegie Hall concert. Its on CD. Soon afterwards he left the USA for London.

[spritjoggle]

@UltraBibendum

[vicpur]

One of the greatest men of the 20th century. Sacrificed an awesome carreer for what he belived to be right.(Well Left actually) .

[1cloclo25]

my god. i love this. its amazing. were singing this in my chours and hearing this makes me feel the real emotion.

[elainezmaher]

This is incredibly beautiful, thank God for Paul Robeson!

[Bobofwestoregonusa]

God I love bass singing.

[Bobary8]

@Bobofwestoregonusa I love YOU! :P

[marinetadpole1]

Beautiful, I remember this as a child. My mother used to play and and sing with it, her voice was beautiful too.

[NAI917RAH]

I love this version. I can feel the emotion within this song, which is better than most I've heard on youtube.

[petrina1022]

Stunning singing and very moving. Thank you for this tribute to the great Paul Robeson.

[grummeper]

ohhuhhhh - GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!

[raigekimaru]

all political views aside, one of the best basses of the 20th century.

[TheHenrylaycock]

yes - it's just that 'political views', AKA racism, did their best to keep Robeson and his voice, as well as other great African Americans, out of the public sphere.

[raigekimaru]

nope, I was referring to his communist views. I am a hardcore libertarian so that doesn't particularly vibe well with me.

[WOMP2007]

it's good for your health to jump off buildings as well. so if you read that a black man had political beliefs in the 50s, its as true as the illusion you stare at when you brush your teeth, eh?

[raigekimaru]

I'm sorry but your comment makes no sense whatsoever ^v^

[WOMP2007]

communism/social networking/crowd sourcing/provide a link or ten detailing exactly what made him communist and then tell me what exactly you mean by libertarian.

i am ignorant when it comes to labels standing in for actual actions that make up one's existence rather than a convenient label to guide us into further misunderstanding of what you actually mean when you say communist libertarian. i'm just unsure what makes you realize you are a hardcore descriptor of cookie cutter belief systems.

[raigekimaru]

hmm, I've come across a bunch of legitimate looking data, but there is no way for me to really know. the government ruins people's reps.

PS: I affiliate most with libertarians because I think the government has crazily overextended it's power and is treating it's citizens like kids. laws like curfew, minimum drinking age, drug use and sexual issues are none of the government's business. people have this thing called privacy. if you want to hear more about why I'm libertarian, I'm glad to share.

[raigekimaru]

I meant to say "ruins people's reps all the time".

PS: 500 characters is way too small a limit when you're trying to explain a complex piece of information =)

[seanmg]

I'm a Classical Liberal and I don't like Socialism, Communism or Fascism but if we discount the contributions of people who sympathized with these three groups in Robeson's time, we'd not have many left unscathed. Great Music is great music. Also, you have to understand that Socialism and Communism were appealing for many African Americans at the time in part because lynchings and oppression seemed to jibe with capitalism. Some Socialists groups were bullies but a lot of the record is fiction.

[Prudukt]

Jeezus! this version of the song is so ethereal. Paul Robeson was such a powerful vocalist. That bass.. Oh yes!

[Oiaku]

Paul Robeson was easily one of the greatest men of the 20th century.

[Artaudin2]

If art be defined as the communication of human experience to just about anybody, regardless of their experience, this a very high form of art. I mean both the song and the marvelous rendition.

[dfarmbrough]

Gorgeous voice and a very clear recording, thank you for adding these appropriate and well-rostrummed images, it's a great way to present Robeson these days.

[cillian2411]

this is so beautiful, it is chilling!

[epointt]

I like this version the best...

[TheRower1]

So was Jesus

[Ariah09]

Much like the description, everybody knows. So what's your point?

[cillian2411]

that is a lie, that is not how he died

[varadero1839]

Attempted a message to you, but it seems unlikely that I can reach you. Hoped to discuss your comment. If possible, please get back to me.

[2blakandbold]

Black history month is upon us !This is one of my favorite performers!While "We " celebrated Sydney Poitier there was Paul.

[kernlzfan67]

if only he hadent died of aids

[varadero1839]

Paul Robeson died of natural causes on:

January 23, 1976.

The 1st cases of AIDS, then know in the USA as "GRID," were in early 1980-1981.

[amdunning]

Thanks varadero for setting the record straight. That couldn't be further from the truth.