How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, (1)
The speaker begins the poem with a bold declaration: "I hear America singing." And what is America singing? Varied carols. While the speaker will go on to list all of the workers and the different jobs that they do, in this opening line, he lumps all of the workers in together as one "America." Whitman's vision of America acknowledge both individuality and the power of Americans as a collective force. (BOOM.)
Quote #2
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deck-hand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The woodcutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, (2-8)
In these lines, the speaker describes the working Americans separately; there are tons of people doing tons of jobs in this poem. But what unites them all is that they are singing as they work. They each sing their own song, but the very fact of their singing unites them in the speaker's mind.
Quote #3
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. (9-11)
All work and no play makes America a dull boy (or girl). In these final lines of the poem, the speaker gives us a little glimpse into what happens in the off-hours. It turns out that the workers know how to have some fun too. And what's that fun made up of? Why, that would be singing, of course.