Happy Labo(u)r Day, my godless commie brethren!

[CanuckAmok]

Some Billy Bragg for you all:

There Is Power In A Union

There is power in a factory, power in the land
Power in the hand of the worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
There is power in a Union

Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers blood
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
War has always been the bosses way, sir

The Union forever,defending our rights
Down with the blackleg,all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far-off lands
There is power in a Union

Now I long for the morning that they realise
Brutality and unjust laws cannot defeat us
But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?

Money speaks for money,the Devil for his own
Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone?
What a comfort for the widow,a light to the child
There is power in a Union

The Union forever,defending our rights
Down with the blackleg,all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters together we will stand
There is power in a Union


The Internationale (adaptation)

Stand up, all victims of oppression
For the tyrants fear your might
Don't cling so hard to your possessions
For you have nothing, if you have no rights
Let racist ignorance be ended
For respect makes the empires fall
Freedom is merely privilege extended
Unless enjoyed by one and all.

CHORUS:
So come brothers and sisters
For the struggle carries on
The Internationale
Unites the world in song
So comrades come rally
For this is the time and place
The international ideal
Unites the human race

Let no one build walls to divide us
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us
We'll live together or we'll die alone
In our world poisoned by exploitation
Those who have taken, now they must give
And end the vanity of nations
We've one but one Earth on which to live

And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields
We stand unbowed before their armour
We defy their guns and shields
When we fight, provoked by their aggression
Let us be inspired by life and love
For though they offer us concessions
Change will not come from above.

[qnr]

1. I'd be surprised if more than 15% of the people celebrating it (IRL)

even knew what it related to. Happy Labour Day to you too, and thanks to your countrymen for getting the ball rolling.

[tigereye]

2. I should send you an MP3 of a buddy of mine

he's sort of a modern Pittsburgh version of Woodie Guthrie.

I've had labor-union style songs on the brain today.

[Metta]

3. Ever hear Anne Feeney?

The queen of leftist songs? Pittsburgh native and resident.

[tigereye]

5. oh, yeah

I've seen her plenty, and have met her a few times. Great music.

[bleedingheart]

4. I just got back from a Labor United Picnic just a few hours ago

here in Westmoreland County PA...huge turnout.

I am not even in a Union...but I went in solidarity for the Unions and because I am the daughter and granddaughter of Union members...

My dad was with the Steelworkers Union
My grandfather was with the United Mine Workers.

[tigereye]

6. hi BH

I was in a union briefly - I think it was AFSCME - when I worked for the county.

How is school for the kids? My kid doesn't start til tomorrow and it's getting a little old! ;)