Tune: Red Wing, by Kerry Mills and Thurland Chattaway, 1907; new union lyrics by E. S. Nelson ca 1920s; performed by Joe Glazer - From the album, I Will Win: Songs of the Wobblies, 1977
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Lyrics:
Conditions, they are bad,
And some of you are sad;
You cannot see your enemy,
The class that lives in luxury.
You working folk are poor:
Will be forever more
As long as you permit the few
To guide your destiny.
Shall we still be slaves and work for wages?
It is outrageous: has been for ages!
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!
Shall we still be slaves and work for wages?
It is outrageous: has been for ages!
This earth by right belongs to toilers
And not to spoilers of liberty!
Working folk, unite!
We must put up a fight
To make us free from slavery
And cap’talistic tyranny.
This fight is not in vain:
We’ve got a world to gain.
Will you be a fool, a cap’talist tool,
And serve your enemy?
Shall we still be slaves and work for wages?
It is outrageous: has been for ages!
This earth by right belongs to toilers
And not to spoilers of liberty!