Friday, May 1st at 12:00 noon CARA (CA Alliance of Retired Americans) is holding a virtual sing-a-long to celebrate INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY in honor of workers all over the world. (click on link at noon): https://zoom.us/j/8308420049
or Dial by Phone 888-475-4499, Meeting ID for both computer and phone is 830 842 0049
Union Maid (v.1/2 Woody Guthrie, v. 3: Capple Israel, v.4: Nancy Katz; m:trad “Redwing”)
There once was a union maid, who never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the company boys come ’round
She always stood her ground.
Chorus: Oh, you can’t scare me, I’m sticking to the union,
I’m sticking to the union, I’m sticking to the union.
Oh, you can’t scare me, I’m sticking to the union,
I’m sticking to the union ’til the day I die.
This union maid was wise to the tricks of company spies,
She couldn’t be fooled by a company stool, she’d always organize the guys.
She always got her way when she struck for higher pay.
She’d show her card to the National Guard
And this is what she’d say (Chorus)
You women who want to be free, take a little tip from me;
Break out of that mold we’ve all been sold, you got a fighting history
The fight for women’s rights with workers must unite
Like Mother Jones, move those bones to the front of every fight! (Chorus)
A woman’s struggle is hard, even with a union card
She’s got to stand on her own two feet and not be a servant of the male elite
It’s time to take a stand, keep working hand in hand
There is a job that’s gotta be done and a fight that’s gotta be won! (Chorus)
Solidarity Forever (lyrics by Ralph Chaplin, v.3 Steve Suffet. music: Battle Hymn of the Republic)
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 strength of one,
But the union makes us strong.
Chorus: Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever,
For the union makes us strong.
It is we who plowed the prairies; built the cities where they trade;
Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid;
Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made;
But 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)
They divide us by our color, they divide us by our tongue
They divide us men and women, they divide us old and young
But they’ll tremble at our voices when they hear these verses sung
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 the union makes us strong. (Chorus)