Tune, “Sweet Bye and Bye.” Long-haired preachers come out every night, Try to tell you what’s wrong and what’s right; But when asked how ’bout something to eat They will answer with voices so sweet; Chorus You will eat, bye and bye. In that glorious land above the sky; Work and pray, live on hay.… Read More THE PREACHER AND THE BARE FACTS by Joe Hill
Tune, “Rainbow.” We want all the workers in the world to organize Into a great big union grand And when we all united stand The world for workers we’ll demand If the working class could only see and realize What mighty power labor has Then the exploiting master class It would soon fade away. Chorus… Read More WHAT WE WANT by Joe Hill
Tune, “Count Your Blessings.” An employment shark one day I went to see, And he said, “Come in and buy a job from me, Just a couple o’ dollars for the office fee, But the job is steady and the fare is free.” ChorusCount your pennies, count them, one by one, And you’ll plainly see… Read More COFFEE AND by Joe Hill
Tune, “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Go Marching. If you all will shut your trap, I will tell you ’bout a chap, That was broke and up against it, too, for fair; He was not the kind that shirk, He was looking hard for work. But he heard the same old story everywhere. Chorus:Tramp, tramp,… Read More THE TRAMP by Joe Hill
THE OLD TOILER’S MESSAGEAir: “Silver Threads Among the Gold.” “Darling, I am growing old” — So the toiler told his wife — Father Time the days have tolled Of my usefulness in life. Just tonight my master told me He can’t use me anymore. Oh, my darling, do not scold me. When the wolf comes… Read More THE OLD TOILER’S MESSAGE
I had a job once threshing wheat. Worked sixteen hours with hands and feet, And when the moon was shining bright, They kept me working all the night. One-moonlight night — I hate to tell, I accidently slipped and fell: My pitchfork went right in between Some cog wheels in the thresh machine. Chorus —… Read More TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DEE-AY by Joe Hill
The little worker ants, That puff their chests out, And speak of social injustice, In unearned honor and importance.Pronounce that they represent the folks back home. The foolish that cast their votes in ignorance, Driven to a lie-filled, fearful frenzy, That became hatred and malice.While all the while, their true intentions, Hidden in lies and… Read More The Worker Ants 006
REVEILLE by Lola RidgeCOME forth, you workers! Let the fires go cold — Let the iron spill out, out of the troughs — Let the iron run wild Like a red bramble on the floors — Leave the mill and the foundry and the mine And the shrapnel lying on the wharves — Leave the… Read More REVEILLE by Lola Ridge
LAST night I watched a star fall like a great pearl into the sea, Till my ego expanding encompassed sea and star, Containing both as in a trembling cup.
TENDER and tremulous green of leaves Turned up by the wind, Twanging among the vines — Wind in the grass Blowing a clear path For the new-stripped soul to pass . . . The naked soul in the sunlight . . . Like a wisp of smoke in the sunlight On the hill-side shimmering. Dance… Read More DISPOSSESSED by Lola Ridge
Ramblings of an Old Coot 