1. |
Hold the Fort
01:45
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We meet today in freedom’s cause
And raise our voices high.
We'll join our hands in union strong
To battle or to die.
Hold the fort
For we are coming,
Union men be strong.
Side by side keep pressing onward,
Victory will come.
Look my comrades
See the union banners waving high.
Reinforcements now appearing
Victory is nigh.
Hold the fort
For we are coming,
Union men be strong.
Side by side keep pressing onward,
Victory will come.
See our numbers still increasing
Hear the bugles blow.
By our union we shall triumph
Over every foe.
Hold the fort
For we are coming,
Union men be strong.
Side by side keep pressing onward,
Victory will come.
Fierce and long, the battle rages
But we will not fear.
Help will come whenever needed
Cheer my comrades cheer.
Hold the fort
For we are coming,
Union men be strong.
Side by side keep pressing onward,
Victory will come.
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2. |
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Are you poor forlorn and hungry?
Are there lots of things you lack?
Is your life made up of misery?
Then dump the bosses off your back
Are your clothes all torn and tattered?
Are you living in a shack?
Would you have your troubles scattered?
Then dump the bosses off your back!
Are you almost split asunder?
Loaded like a long eared jack?
Boob why don’t you buck like thunder
And dump the bosses off your back
All the agonies you suffer
you could end with one good whack
Stiffen up your angry duffer
And dump the bosses off your back
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3. |
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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 in voices so sweet
You will eat, bye and bye
In that glorious land up in the sky (way up high)
Work and pray, live on hay
You’ll get pie in the sky when you die (that’s a lie)
O the Starvation Army they play
And they sing and they clap and they pray
Til they’ve got all your coins on the drum
Then they’ll tell you when you’re on the bum
Holy Rollers and Jumpers come out
And the holler, they jump and they shout
“Give your money to Jesus” they say
And you will eat on that glorious day
Working folks of all countries unite
Side by side we for freedom will fight
When the world and its wealth we have gained
To the grafters we will sing this refrain
You will eat bye and bye
When you’ve learned how to cook and how to fry
Chop some wood, it’ll do you good
And you’ll eat in that sweet bye and bye (that’s no lie)
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4. |
Casey Jones
01:39
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The workers on the S.P. line to strike sent out a call
But Casey Jones, the engineer, he wouldn't strike at all
His boiler it was leaking, and its driver's on the bum
And his engine and its bearings they were all out of plumb
Casey Jones kept his junk pile running
Casey Jones was working double time
Casey Jones got a wooden medal
For being good and faithful on the S.P. line
The workers said to Casey: "Won't you help us win this strike?"
But Casey said: "Let me alone, you'd better take a hike."
Then Casey's wheezy engine ran right off the worn-out track
And Casey hit the river with an awful crack
Casey Jones hit the river bottom
Casey Jones broke his blooming spine
Casey Jones turned into an angel
He took a trip to heaven on the S.P. line
When Casey Jones got up to heaven to the Pearly Gate
He said: "I'm Casey Jones, the guy that pulled the S.P. freight."
"You're just the man," said Peter, "our musicians are on strike
You can get a job a-scabbing any time you like."
Casey Jones got a job in heaven
Casey Jones was doing mighty fine
Casey Jones went scabbing on the angels
just like he did to workers on the S.P. line.
The angels got together and they said it wasn't fair
For Casey Jones to go around a-scabbing everywhere
The Angel Union No. 23, they sure were there
And they promptly fired Casey down the Golden Stair
Casey Jones went to Hell a-flying
"Casey Jones," the Devil said, "Oh fine
Casey Jones, get busy shoveling sulfur
That's what you get for scabbing on the S.P. line."
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5. |
Hallelujah! I'm a Bum
01:40
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Oh why don’t you work like other people do?
How the hell can I work when there’s no work to do?
Hallelujah I’m a bum
Hallelujah bum again
Hallelujah give us a handout to revive us again
I went to a house, I knocked on the door
The lady said “Scram bum you’ve been here before”
Hallelujah I’m a bum
Hallelujah bum again
Hallelujah give us a handout to revive us again
I went to the bar and I asked for a drink
They gave me a cup and said there’s the sink
Hallelujah I’m a bum
Hallelujah bum again
Hallelujah give us a handout to revive us again
Oh I love my boss she’s a good friend of mine
That’s why I am starving out on the bread line
Hallelujah I’m a bum
Hallelujah bum again
Hallelujah give us a handout to revive us again
Oh why don’t you save all the money you earn?
If I didn’t eat I’d have money to burn
Hallelujah I’m a bum
Hallelujah bum again
Hallelujah give us a handout to revive us again
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6. |
Solidarity Forever
04:20
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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
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
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong
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
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong
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
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong
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
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong
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Shannon Murray Bemidji, Minnesota
Shannon Murray is a folk/punk singer-songwriter. Tackling guitar playing, and songcraft like it’s a contact sport, their music is intensely political, and deeply personal. Shocking and delighting audiences everywhere with their quirky stories, passionate songs, quick wit, and contagious energy, Shannon has been making folk a threat again since 2001, and is proud to call Bemidji, MN home. ... more
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