I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
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 deckhand
singing on the steamboat deck,
From this section, Whitman is getting into the specifics of who in America is “singing”. The poem starts by being broad, saying that “I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear”. Then after, Whitman starts naming the specifics of who he believes is singing.
I Hear America Singing