1. |
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(chorus)
so we say
say their names
generations sending pleas into a void
that has no shame accepts no blame
for generations of lives stolen
from the days of slave patrols to
tomorrow's deadly choke hold
say their names
William Green, Gamel Brown, Michael Dean, Kendrell Watkins, Aura Rosser, William
Burgess, Richard Price
Rayshard Scales, Botham Jean, Michael Thomas, Dion Johnson, Maurice Gordon,
Alton Sterling, Tamir Rice
(chorus)
Daniel Prude, Rayshard Brooks, Mycael Johnson, Donnie Sanders, Janisha Fonville,
Jaquyn Light, George Floyd
Chris Carter, Shaun Lee Fuhr, Atatiana Jefferson, Manny Ellis, Desmond Hayes, Eric
Reason
(chorus)
Stephon Clark, Freddy Gray, Michelle Cusseaux, Kanisha Fuller, Michael Brown,
Gabriealla Neverez
Keith Collins, Akaii Gurley, Breonna Taylor, Joshua Johnson, Tina Davis Barry Gedeus
so we say
say their names
generations sending pleas into a void
that has no shame accepts no blame
for generations of lives stolen
from the days of slave patrols to
tomorrow's deadly choke hold
say their names
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2. |
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I'm gonna tell you fascists
You may be surprised
The people in this world
Are getting organized
You're bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose
Race hatred cannot stop us
This one thing we know
Your poll tax and Jim Crow
And greed has got to go
You're bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose.
All of you fascists bound to lose...
I said, all of you fascists bound to lose...
Yes sir, all of you fascists bound to lose...
You're bound to lose! You fascists...
Bound to lose!
People of every color
Marching side to side
Marching 'cross these fields
Where a million fascists dies
You're bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose!
I'm going into this battle
And take my union gun
We'll end this world of slavery
Before this battle's won
You're bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose!
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3. |
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The owning class is clamoring
to us the workers' money bring
let them live on 'straps and 'string
and eat their boots now things are lean
some workers they manipulate
to take the blame & agitate
to put their families' lives at stake
so masters' profits they can make
ch:
they say they know that many more will die
even dare to call it the "front line"
and thank you for your sacrifice now go and make those pies
you're essentially expendable, at 7.25
the plutocrats in congress say
the urgency has gone away
the owning class has had their day
3 trillion plus is on the way
help the worker stay alive
but not enough to really thrive
comfort takes away the drive
to die for 7.25
ch:
they say they know that many more will die
even dare to call it the "front line"
and thank you for your sacrifice now go and make those fries
you're essentially expendable, at 7.25
the president called this a hoax
and his followers he tries to coax
to mingle while they praise his boasts
then to the market they'll be thrown
distance, now the white house rule
is too extravagant for you
get back to work you lazy tool
and when you break, they'll get one new
ch:
they say they know that many more will die
even dare to call it the "front line"
as they're stepping up the class war, you know they could be right
'tis time my fellow workers for the general strikehis wealth he thought would insulate
he thought his power was too great
that virus would not dare invade
his callous white house palisade
he will now be tested every day
maybe 4 times, even eight
but you can all just play roulette
he wants that burger on his plate
ch:
they say they know that more will die
even dare to call it the "front line"
as they're stepping up the class war, you know they must be right
'tis time my fellow workers for the general strike
they're scheming even now on how
to siphon off our bank accounts
congress plans to help them out
their priorities are not in doubt
but workers have their own demands
in states and towns across the land
they're walking out to make a stand
this need not go to bastards plans
ch:
they say they know that more will die
even dare to call it the "front line"
as they're stepping up the class war, you know they must be right
'tis time my fellow workers for the general strike
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4. |
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Tell me how many dead for the Dow?
How many dead for the Dow?
Is it two or is it three, is it you or is it me?
Tell me how many dead for the Dow?
Tell me how many rooms will hold
All the dead that you’re dyin’ to unload
Put them all in your hotel, lock ‘em in run like hell
All the corpses that your rooms are gonna hold
Tell me how many deaths will you allow?
How many dead is good for now?
Is it five or is it ten, Is it us or is it them
Tell me how many deaths will you allow
Not a single death for the Dow!
Your money isn’t good here anyhow!
You’re so whacked about your stocks that you’d put us in a box
But we ain’t about to die for you nohow
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5. |
05 - October 27
03:24
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they said be back in your seats in a few minutes
we're running late but we'll get back on track
i stepped out from the concert hall
and in a few words from a friend
i knew that i wasn't coming back
she seemed upset so i asked her how are you doing?
She said i'm not good, i've just read the news
it's happening again
more people dead
what's going on? what can we do?
how are you?
27 of october sabbath morning
families were gathering in prayer
armed with rifles guns and hatred
a killer stormed the synagogue
at the tree of life in pittsburgh
there are 11 people dead
David and Cecil Rosenthal
Bernice and Sylvan Simon
Joyce Fienberg
Richard Gottfried
Melvin Wax and Daniel Stein
Jerry Rabinowitz
Irving Younger
and Rose Mallinger
all were slaughtered by a nazi
yelling out all jews must die
now the president is lurking he's backstage in the hangar
at his latest campaign rally a slight grin upon his face
he claps his hands and paces then saunters to the podium
says the day was hard and he won't tolerate the hate
but his tongue keeps painting targets on his gallery of enemies
says the fault lies with the media and he cannot be blamed
for the actions of his followers
the paranoid and polarized
the nazis and the magas
the shock troops and foot soldierswhite power true believers
the shooters and bombers
while he takes the lead as spotter
they take aim
i'll take this time to ask you how you doing?
I know i'm not good, i've just read the news
it's happening again
more people dead
what's going on? what can we do?
how are you?
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6. |
06 - 1913 Massacre
06:41
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Take a trip with me in 1913
To Calumet, Michigan, in the copper country
I will take you to a place called Italian Hall
Where the miners are having their big Christmas ball
I will take you in a door and up a high stairs
Singing and dancing is heard everywhere
I will let you shake hands with the people you see
And watch the kids dance around the big Christmas tree
You ask about work and you ask about pay
They'll tell you they make less than a dollar a day
Working the copper claims, risking their lives
So it's fun to spend Christmas with children and wives
There's talking and laughing and songs in the air
And the spirit of Christmas is there everywhere
Before you know it you're friends with us all
And you're dancing around and around in the hall
Well a little girl sits down by the Christmas tree lights
To play the piano so you gotta keep quiet
To hear all this fun you would not realize
That the copper boss' thug men are milling outside
The copper boss' thugs stuck their heads in the door
One of them yelled and he screamed, "there's a fire!"
A lady she hollered, "there's no such a thing
Keep on with your party, there's no such thing."
A few people rushed and it was only a few
"It's just the thugs and the scabs fooling you,"
A man grabbed his daughter and carried her down
But the thugs held the door and he could not get out
And then others followed, a hundred or more
But most everybody remained on the floor
The gun thugs they laughed at their murderous joke
While the children were smothered on the stairs by the doorSuch a terrible sight I never did see
We carried our children back up to their tree
The scabs outside still laughed at their spree
And the children that died there were seventy-three
The piano played a slow funeral tune
And the town was lit up by a cold Christmas moon
The parents they cried and the miners they moaned
"See what your greed for money has done."
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7. |
07 - Solidarity Forever
04:14
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When the union’s inspiration through the workers blood shall run
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun
Yet what force on Earth is weaker than the feeble force of one but
The union makes us strong
Chorus:
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong
Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite
Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might
Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight? For…
The union makes us strong
(Chorus)
It is we who plowed the prairies, build the cities where they trade
Dug the mines and build the workshops, endless miles of RR laid
Now we stand outcast and starving ‘mid the wonders we have made but
The union makes us strong
(Chorus)
All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone
We have laid the wide foundations, built it skyward stone by stone
It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own
While the union makes us strong
(Chorus)
They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn
But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn
We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn that
The union makes us strong
(Chorus)
In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold
Greater than the might of armies magnified a thousand-fold
We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old for
But the union makes us strong
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8. |
08 - John D's Soliloquy
04:12
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Ten million workers sweat and toil increasing my wealth and fame
with wages small but I tell them all that our interests, they're the same
their leaders they repeat my words and politics hold sway
which pleases me cuz I like to see them vote in the same old way
the grub is soaring out of sight and the clothing is extra high
and house rents upwards take their course and to the heavens fly
while wages take the toboggan route and downwards down they go
so working folks when winter comes will have to live on snow
now some stand pat for democrat, some for the gop
but both will use that riot gun whenever it pleases me
or split their force in the great sham fight cuz none understand the game
whichever wins of my faithful twins, I boodle just the same
they cast their vote for the 12 hour boss and strike for an 8 hr day
which cheers me so I overflow with mirth and reduce their pay
they strike like fools and they vote like seals and land in the big bull pen
and I laugh, but my interest are the same as you working men
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9. |
09 - Hey Polly!
03:55
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|
the politician prowls around
for workers' votes entreating
he claims to know the slickest way
to give the boss a beating
chorus:
polly we can't use you dear
to lead us into clover
this fight is ours and as for you
clear out or get run over
he claims to be the bosses foe
on worker's friendship doting
he says don't fight while on the job
but do it all by voting
elect ME to the office boys
let all your rage pass o'er you
don't bother with your countless wrongs
i'll do your fighting for you
he says that sabotage won't do
it isn't to his liking
and that without HIS mighty aid
there is no use in striking
he begs and coaxes, threatens, yells
for shallow glory thirsting
in fact he's just a bag of wind
that's swollen up to bursting
the smiling bosses think he'd like
to boodle from their manger
and he never mentions STRIKE
they know there is no danger
and all the while he spouts and spiels
he's musing undetected
on what a lovely snap he'll have
as soon as he’s elected
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10. |
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long in their bondage the people have waited
lulled to inaction by pulpit and press
hoping in time their wrongs would be abated
trusting the ballot to give them redress
vain was their trust for a high court decision
swept the last bulwark of freedom away
the voice of the people is met with derision
the people in action no court can gainsay
chorus:
so up with the masses and down with the classes
death to the traitor who money can buy
cooperation is the hope of the nation
strike for it now or our liberties die
hark to the cries of the hungry and idle
borne on the breezes from prairie to sea
patience their fury no longer can bridle
onward they're coming to die of be free
hear and grow pale you despoilers of virtue
corporate managers, masters of slaves
fools, did you think that we never could hurt you
you were the cowards and we the brave
hail to the birth of the new constitution
laws that are equal with justice for all
hail to the age of man's true evolution
anarchy unfolding at liberty's call
buried forever be selfish ambition
cruel fomenter of discord and strife
long live the commnwealth, hope's glad fruition
humanity rises at news of life
chorus:
so up with the masses and down with the classes
death to the traitor who money can buy
cooperation is the hope of the nation
strike for it now or our liberties die
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11. |
11 - Threats to Amerika
03:48
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oh say can you see in that land of the free
home of those brave souls who take to their keys
vomiting hatred , adjusting their sheets
while the fascist in chief obsessively tweets
his threats to america, war in the streets
ch:
with each new murder by police the people's outrage grows
with each new thug incursion more people rise up to say no
decades on still saying all you fascists bound to lose
take you on in portland and wherever else you choose
a knee to the neck, a bat to the teeth
a shot to the eye and noone can breathe
fixed bayonets, bullets in guns
crackdowns and curfews and nowhere to run
ch:
new secret soldiers for the fascist in chief
mounting invasions against the cities
where black folks dare challenge their murder by police
there's gas in the neighborhoods, tanks in the streets
ch:
with each new murder by police the people's outrage grows
with each new thug incursion more people rise up to say no
decades on still saying all you fascists bound to lose
take you on in portland and wherever else you choose
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12. |
12 - The Parasites
02:40
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Parasites in this fair country, live from honest labor's sweat
There are some who never labor, yet labor's product get
They never starve or freeze, nor face the wintry breeze
They are well fed, clothed and sheltered,
And they do whate'er they please.
These parasites are living, in luxury and state
While millions starve and shiver, and moan their wretched fate
They know not why they die, nor do they ever try
Their lot in life to better
They only mourn and sigh.
These parasites would vanish and leave this grand old world.
If the workers fought together, and the scarlet flag unfurled
When in One Union grand, the working class shall stand,
The parasites will vanish.
And the workers rule the land.
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13. |
13 - Working Folks Unite
02:24
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Conditions they are bad
And some of you are sad
You cannot see your enemy
The class that lives in luxury
You workingmen are poor
Will be forevermore
As long as you permit the few
To guide your destiny
(chorus)
Shall we still be slaves and work for wages
It is outrageous
Has been for ages
Oh, This earth by right belongs to toilers
And not to spoilers of liberty
The master class is small
But they have lots of "gall"
When we unite to gain our right
If they resist we'll use our might
There is no middle ground
This fight must be one round
To victory, for liberty
Our class is marching on
[Chorus]
Workingmen, unite
We must put up a fight
To make us free from slavery
And capitalistic tyranny
This fight is not in vain
We've got a world to gain
Will you be a fool, a capitalist tool
And serve your enemy
Chorus]
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14. |
14 - The Last Word
03:44
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there shall come a time like thunder
there shall dawn a red red day
when the worker meets the master
and the worker comes to say
i have carried you for ages on my broad submissive back
i have fought in all your battles with that buzzard on my back
i have given blood and muscle to you temples and your thrones
while your greedy eyes have glistened and at last you ask for bone
i have built your giant cities
i have dug your myriad mines
i have made your mighty engines and
your leagues of railroad lines
i have toiled in sweat and sorrow while your priests have whispered wait
and your politicians howled let us vote to change the state
i have dressed in shabby garments i have eaten fearful stuff
i have simply come to tell you that i think i've had enough
enough of sham and flubdud
from your slimy parliments
and enough of hell and heaven from
your cross bound innocents
i have carried you for ages on my broad submissive back
i have fought in all your battles with that buzzard on my back
i have dressed in shabby garments i have eaten fearful stuff
i have simply come to tell you that i think i've had enough
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sue jeffers Ohio
Sue Jeffers is a folksinger in the finest sense of
the word, in the tradition of Woody Guthrie
and
all Woody’s musical offspring. Her career has
spanned more than thirty years.
Songs give power to movements. If you believe
in solidarity forever, Sue Jeffers’ Up With the
Masses will inspire you, embolden you, and
connect the struggles of the early 20th century
with our.
... more
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