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Rebel Tongues Living Tongues

by James Connolly Upstate NY IWW

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1.
I pray dear Lord for Jesus' sake, Give us this day a T-Bone Steak, Hallowed be thy Holy name, But don’t forget to send the same. Oh, hear my humble cry, Oh Lord, And send us down some decent board, Brown gravy and some German fried, With sliced tomatoes on the side. Observe me on my bended legs, I’m asking you for Ham and Eggs, And if thou havest custard pies, I like, dear Lord, the largest size. Oh, hear my cry, All Mighty Host, I quite forgot the Quail on Toast, Let your kindly heart be stirred, And stuff some oysters in that bird. Dear Lord, we know your Holy wish, On Friday we must have a fish, Our flesh is weak and spirit stale, You better make that fish a whale. Oh, hear me Lord, remove these “Dogs,” These sausages of powder’d logs, Your bull beef hash and bearded Snouts. Take them to hell or thereabouts. With Alum bread and Pressed-Beef butts, Dear Lord you damn near ruin’d my guts, Your white-wash milk and Oleorine, I wish to Christ I’d never seen. Oh, hear me Lord, I am praying still, But if you won’t, our union will, Put pork chops on the bill of fare, And starve no workers anywhere. I am happy to say this prayer has been answered—by the “old man” himself. He tells me He has furnished—plenty for all—and that if I am not getting mine it’s because I am not organized SUFFICIENTLY strong to force the master to loosen up. He tells me he has no knowledge on Dogs, Pressed-Beef Butts, etc., and that they probably are products of the Devil. He further informs me the Capitalists are children of Hisn—and that He absolutely refuses to participate in any children’s squabbles. He believes in letting us fight it out along the lines of Industrial Unionism. Yours in faith, T-BONE SLIM.
2.
Would you have freedom from Wage slavery, Then join in the grand Industrial band; Would you from mis'ry and hunger be free, Then come, do your share, lend a hand. There is pow'r there is pow'r in a band of workingmen, When they stand hand in hand, That's a pow'r, that's a pow'r That must rule in every land— One Industrial Union Grand. Would you have mansions of gold in the sky, and live in a shack, way in the back? Would you have wings up in heaven to fly, And starve here with rags on your back? If you've had 'nuff of the "blood of the lamb" Then join in the grand industrial band; If, for a change, you would have eggs and ham, Then come, do your share, like a man. If you like sluggers to beat off your head, Then don't organize, all unions despise. If you want nothing before you are dead, Shake hands with your boss and look Wise. Come, all ye workers, from every land, Come, join in the grand industrial band; Then we our share of this earth shall demand. Come on! Do your share, lend a hand.
3.
Come all you good workers, good news to you I'll tell Of how the good ol' union is coming here to dwell Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? My daddy was a miner now he's in the air and sun but he'll stick with the union 'til every battle's won Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? They say in Harlan County there are no neutrals there You'll either be a union man or a thug for J. H. Blair Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Oh workers can you stand it? Oh tell me how you can Will you be a lousy scab or will you take a stand? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Don't scab for the bosses, don't listen to their lies Us poor folks haven't got a chance unless we organize Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Tell me Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Which side are you on?
4.
Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living, Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living, Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living, We gotta keep giving to the living, fight like hell! Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the contract, Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the contract, Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the contract, We gotta keep givin’ and livin’, fight like hell! Pray for the dead and keep on a-movin’ and a-shakin’, Pray for the dead and keep on a-movin’ and a-shakin’, Pray for the dead and keep on a-movin’ and a-shakin’, We gotta keep givin’ to the livin’, fight like hell! Pray for the dead and keep on organizing, Pray for the dead and keep on organizing, Pray for the dead and keep on organizing, We gotta keep givin’ to the livin’, fight like hell! Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living, Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living, Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living, We gotta keep giving to the living, fight like hell!
5.
Porque los pobres no tienen Adonde volver la vista La vuelven hacia los cielos Con la esperanza infinita De encontrar lo que su hermano En este mundo le quita ¡Palomita! ¡Qué cosas tiene la vida Ay zambita! Porque los pobres no tienen Adonde volver la voz La vuelven hacia los cielos Buscando una confesión Ya que su hermano no escucha La voz de su corazón Porque los pobres no tienen En este mundo esperanzas Se amparan en la otra vida Como a una justa balanza Por eso las procesiones Las velas, las alabanzas De tiempos inmemoriales Que se ha inventado el infierno Para asustar a los pobres Con sus castigos eternos Y el pobre, que es inocente Con su inocencia creyendo El cielo tiene las riendas La tierra y el capital Y a los soldados del Papa Les llena bien el morral Y al que trabaja le meten La gloria como un bozal Para seguir la mentira Lo llama su confesor Le dice que Dios no quiere Ninguna revolución Ni pliegos ni sindicatos Que ofende su corazón
6.
Gone are the days when the master class could say, "We'll work you long hours for little pay; Well work you all day and half the night as well." But I hear the workers' voices saying, "You will, like hell!' Chorus We're going, we're going to take a four hour day. We surely will surprise the boss some First of May. Now working folk, it's up to you to say If you want a general four hour day. As soon as you are ready, we are with you heart and hand. All you have to do is join our Union Grand. Now working folk, we are working far too long; That's why we've got this vast unemployed throng. Give every worker a chance to work each day; Let's join together and to the boss all say:
7.
Un du akerst un du zeyst, Un du fiterst un du neyst. Un du hamerst un du shpinst Zog, mayn folk, vos du fardinst? You plow the fields and sow the grain, bending all your clothes again after work there's still chores to do oh my dear whats left for you Kling-klang, kling-klang! Klapt der hamer mit zayn gezang! Kling-klang, kling-klang! Tserayst di keytn fun shklafn-tsvang! Vebst dayn vebshtul tog un nakht, Grobst undz ayzn fun der shakht, Brengst di shefe undz arayn, Ful mit tvue un mit vayn. You weave your loom both night and day and dig the iron from the clay the grain and wine we harvest here abundance throughout the year Kling-klang, kling-klang... Nor vu iz dayn tish gegreyt? Nor vu iz dayn yontef kleyd? Nor vu iz dayn sharfe shverd? Velkhes glik iz dir bashert? So where is your table set? And where is your best outfit? And where is your sharpened sword? Bashert, the joy is yours. We make these treasures, but not to keep instead we wear these chains and weep Shafst undz oytsres on a shiyer, Altsding - nor nit far dir; Un far zikh hostu in noyt Nor geshmidt a shvere keyt. Kling-klang, kling-klang... Un du hamerst un du shpinst Zog, mayn folk, vos du fardinst?
8.
In 1649 To St. George's Hill A ragged band they called the Diggers Came to show the people's will They defied the landlords They defied the laws They were the dispossessed Reclaiming what was theirs "We come in peace," they said "To dig and sow We come to work the lands in common And to make the waste grounds grow This earth divided We will make whole So it will be A common treasury for all The sin of property We do disdain No man has any right to buy and sell The earth for private gain By theft and murder They took the land Now everywhere the walls Spring up at their command They make the laws To chain us well The clergy dazzle us with heaven Or they damn us into hell We will not worship The God they serve The God of greed who feeds the rich While poor men starve We work we eat together We need no swords We will not bow to the masters Or pay rent to the lords We are free men Though we are poor You Diggers all stand up for glory Stand up now From the men of property The orders came They sent the hired men and troopers To wipe out the Diggers' claim Tear down their cottages Destroy their corn They were dispersed But still the vision lingers on You poor take courage You rich take care This earth was made a common treasury For everyone to share All things in common All people one "We come in peace - " The orders came to cut them down
9.
Your bulldozers rolling through my part of town The iron ball swings and knocks it all down You knocked down my flophouse and knocked down my bars Black-topped it over to park all your cars And where will I go and where can I stay? You knocked down the skid row and hauled it away I'll flag a fast rattler and ride it on down, boys They're running the bums out of town Old Maxie the tailor is closing his doors There ain't nothing left in the secondhand stores You knocked down my hock shop and the big Harbor Lights The old Chinese cafe that was open all night And where will I go and where can I stay? You knocked down the skid row and hauled it away I'll flag a fast rattler and ride it on down, boys They're running the bums out of town You ran out the hookers who worked on the street But built a new club where the playboys can meet My bookie joint closed when your cops made a raid But you built a new hall for the stock market trade And where will I go and where can I stay? You knocked down the skid row and hauled it away I'll flag a fast rattler and ride it on down, boys They're running the bums out of town These little storekeepers they don't have a chance With the big uptown bankers a-calling the dance With their suit-and-tie restaurants that's all owned by geeks And the counterfeit hippies and their plastic boutiques And where will I go and where can I stay? You knocked down the skid row and hauled it away I'll flag a fast rattler and ride it on down, boys They're running the bums out of town Now I'm finding out there's just one kind of war It's the one going on 'tween the rich and the poor I guess that I don't know a lot about class But the upper and middle can all kiss my ass And where will I go and where can I stay? You knocked down the skid row and hauled it away I'll flag a fast rattler and ride it on down, boys They're running the bums out of town
10.
Who will remember, the hands so white and fine That touched the finest linen that poured the finest wine? Who will remember, the gentle words they spoke To name the lives of two good men, a nuisance or a joke And all who know these two good arms Know I never had to rob or kill I can live by my own two hands and live well And all my life I have struggled To rid the earth of all such crimes. Who will remember Judge Webster Thayer One hand on the gavel, the other resting on the chair. Who will remember the hateful words he said Speaking to the living in the language of the dead. All who know these two good arms Know I never had to rob or kill I can live by my own two hands and live well And all my life I have struggled To rid the earth of all such crimes. Who will remember the hand upon the switch That took the lives of two good men In the service of the rich? Who will remember the one that gave the nod Or the chaplain standing near at hand To invoke the name of God And all who know these two good arms, Know I never had to rob or kill, I can live by my own two hands and live well, And all my life I have struggled, To rid the earth of all such crimes. We will remember this good shoemaker, we will remember this poor fish peddlar, We will remember all the strong arms and hands, That never once found justice in the hands that rule this land. And all who knew these two good men, Knew they never had to rob or kill, Each had lived by his own two hands and lived well, And all their lives they had struggled, To rid the earth of all such crimes And all our lives we must struggle, To rid the earth of all such crimes.
11.
We meet today in freedom's cause And raise our voices high; We join our hands in union strong To battle or to die. Chorus: Hold the fort for we are coming. Union mix, be strong! Side by side we battle onward; Victory will come. Look, my comrades, see the union Banners waving high. Reinforcements now appearing, Victory is nigh. See our numbers still increasing; Hear the bugle blow. By our union we shall triumph Over every foe. Fierce and long the battle rages But we will not fear. Help will come whene'er it's needed. Cheer, my comrades, cheer.
12.
Tayere kinder fun arbet un noyt Ale vos zaynen tsezeyt and tsephreyt Tsuzamen, tsuzamen, di fon is greyt, Zi flatert fun tsorn, fun blut iz zi royt A shvue a shvue af lebn un toyt (Dear children of work and hardship, All who are now scattered in pieces, Come together, the flag is ready, It waves in anger, it's red with blood. An oath, an oath of life and death.) Chorus: Himl un erd vet undz hern Eydes di likhtike shtern A shvue fun blut, un trern Mir shvern mir shvern, mir shvern (Heaven and Earth will hear us, The shining stars we will be our witnesses. An oath of blood, an oath of tears, We swear, we swear, we swear!) Mir shvern tsu kempfn far frayhayt un rekht Mit ale tiranen un zeyere knekht Mir shvern bazign di finstere makht Oder mit heldnmut faln in shlakht (We swear to fight for freedom and right Against all tyrants and their knavish servants We swear to defeat the forces of darkness, Or, with a hero's courage, fall in battle. An oath, an oath of life and death.) Mir shvern tsu himl a blutiker has Tzum merder un royber fun arbeter klas Dem keyser, di hersher di capitalistn Mir shvern zey alemen farnikhtn farvistn A shvue a shvue af lebn un toyt (We swear to heaven a bloody hatred For the murderers and robbers of the working class. The Czar, the rulers, the capitalists, We swear to wipe them all out. An oath, an oath of life and death.) Mir shvern a trayhayt on grenetsn tsum bund Nor er ken bafrayen di shklafn atsind Di fon, di royte is hoykh un breyt Zi flatert fun tsorn fun blut iz zi royt A shvue a shvue af lebn un toyt (We swear an endless loyalty to the Bund. Only it can free the slaves now. The red flag is high and wide. It waves in anger, it is red with blood! An oath, an oath of life and death.)
13.
"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, (x3) 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 John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, But his soul goes marching on. Chorus 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 He captured Harper’s Ferry, with his nineteen men so few, And frightened "Old Virginny" till she trembled thru and thru; They hung him for a traitor, themselves the traitor crew, But his soul is marching on. 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 come pollute our neighborhoods and privatize the grass They exploit our race and gender to divide the working class Because they know united that we'd rise to kick their ass For 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 Ye soldiers of Freedom, then strike, while strike ye may, The death blow of oppression in a better time and way, For the dawn of old John Brown has brightened into day, And his soul is marching on. Chorus In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold, Greater than the might of armies, multiplied a thousand-fold. We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old For the union makes us strong."
14.
They will ask you to be partners in production; They’ll invite you to come in and be a friend. And they’ll keep the promise goin’ while the money’s rollin’ in, But it will be so long, partner, in the end. They will ask you to come in and share the burden In the awesome task to keep them from the red. And they’ll keep you in the dream while the money’s nice and green, But it will be so long, partner, in the end. Now, they’ll tell you not to worry ’bout the farmer Even though he feeds you now and then. It should come as no surprise; it’s just “Free Enterprise,” And they’ll tell him so long, partner, in the end. They will ask you to be partners in production, And they’re asking us for soldiers once again. So, I’ll say it just once more if we have to go to war, It will just be so long, partner, in the end.
15.
The price of gas went up And so did the rent Boss just cut your wages And the money is all spent You can hang your head and cry Go out and pitch a tent Or you can join that one big union by and by The hours are long Your patience is not Its summertime in Burgerville And the kitchen is hot You're going wall to wall Whether the boss is ready or not And you'll win your one big union by and by That's the last straw No more working today Till we get better conditions Shorter hours, higher pay And we're not backing down No matter what they do or say They cant stop that one big union by and by Fellow workers I contend We're friends until the end And we'll fight on together till we know that we can win No more wages, no more bosses More play time and rest In that one big union by and by Fellow workers I confess This can all feel like a test Sometimes I get so down I wanna quit But my fellow workers get it They pick me up and they get me back in it That one big union by and by
16.
​​Back in nineteen eighteen on a sunny day in June, A thousand of us gathered that hopeful afternoon In Nimisilla Park between the railroad and the creek To see Eugene Victor Debs, and to hear him speak. He came down to Canton to talk and take a stand For peace and justice for the working class throughout the land Now forever I’ll remember, wherever I may roam, The prescient words that Gene Debs spoke in my Ohio home. Debs had run for president; it was him I’d voted for Then I heard that he was comin’ here with a cry against the war When so many in our country were still itchin’ for that fight He was a solitary beacon in a stormy night He’d come to see our comrades in the workhouse locked away They would not feed the war machine, their consciences betray From the junkers to the robber barons, money’s what it’s for Poor workers were daily dyin’ in a rich man’s war He said, “There are better days ahead if to ourselves we’re true And we’ll all rise in common cause, rebuild this world anew If we just work together, stand for what is right Make this great cause triumphant, all the working class unite!” He stood there bone and sinew, with a fire in his eyes And a voice full of passion, from a heart so true and wise With courage unrelenting his words defied their power Even though no doubt he knew the danger of the hour He said, “A thousand times I’d rather be a free soul in jail Than a coward in the streets, a sycophant for sale.” So I stood enthralled there that fateful summer day That man changed my life with every word he had to say They hauled him off to jail, sedition, so they said A dangerous man like Debs just has to be stopped dead He said, “I ask no mercy, plead for no immunity For now I see the rising of those who would be free. I clearly see the struggle now between our human need And the wicked powers of exploitation and of greed. But the cross of stars is bending as we pass through the night And the people waken joyful in the hope of morning light.”
17.
We’re thirty days out from the port of Tacoma For New Caledonia we’re bound On an old hulk square-rigger, the Star of Russia But she’ll ne’er again sail Puget sound For she’s seen her day, now they’ve sold her away Under sail it’s her last long trip No longer at large, stripped down for a barge Tomorrow she’ll be no tall ship Chorus: And it’s salt cod and poor old Dobbin Who pulled that old “one-hoss shay” Horse meat so tough it chews like leather And ancient pork fat every day. Fellow workers back home loaded her down with lumber A million board feet, we were told Handsome profit for someone on Washington timber When it’s delivered and sold But the dollars are few for us laboring crew Hard life on these endless waves Weak mind and strong back’s what they pay you for, Jack To them we are nothing but slaves Our cook hasn’t bathed since the birth of the Savior So the galley gives off quite a stink With the smell of the horse meat, the pig fat and fish It’ll drive a poor sailor to drink Hard work night and day, and a pittance for pay And we’re livin’ like rats down below So we all got wise, and we organized Now we won’t be their slaves anymore Chorus We wrote our demands and took them to the skipper Fair treatment and uniform scale He called, “Cast off lines!” and with arms crossed we stood Sayin, “Agree, or the Russia won’t sail!” So he had to choose, but how could we lose? What else could he do but give in? It paid to rebel, now they treat us quite well, Each worker says, “I Will Win!” Chorus So the captain he called in the handsome young mess boy Askin’, “Are you a double-U, son? You’d best keep clear of those double-U’s young man, They make trouble for everyone.” But the boy raised his head, to the skipper he said, Standin’ so brave and tall, “When all is done, an injury to one Is an injury to us all!” Last chorus: Now we’re Wobblies and sea-farin’ rebels For all each one of us stood No longer their slaves when we stand together Our union delivers the goods One big union delivers the goods! Chorus
18.
Gene Debs said "To hell with war! To hell with all who crave it! When masters rule the world no more We'll need no wars to save it." While the ones who own the tools Hoard the wealth and make the rules The whole planet suffers For the powerful few Gene Debs had a lot to say Years ago/ True today With two million locked away What can we do? There’s a better world a-waiting – Work to win it Put an end to poverty, to hunger, despair While there is a lower class I am in it There’s enough for everyone to have a fair share While there is a lower class I am in it Where there is injustice it is done to me While there is a criminal element I am of it While there is a soul in prison I am not free Not behind the prison wall but high above it Truth and honor call upon us – rise and resist! While there is a criminal element I am of it Crime will be unknown when peace and justice exist While there is a lower class I am in it Where there is injustice it is done to me While there is a criminal element I am of it While there is a soul in prison I am not free Can you take time to imagine The day when all receive respect Where want and hunger are just memories And no one suffers from neglect Where each can get an education And work has meaning for us all Instead of brutal retribution An outstretched hand to those who fall? When we at last protect the planet Clean up the water and the air When work is driven not by profit But to make a world we’ll all be proud to share - Speak truth to power and they call it revolution Open your hearts and it’s so easy to see Punishing the poor is just a rich man’s solution While there is a soul in prison I am not free While there is a lower class I am in it Where there is injustice it is done to me While there is a criminal element I am of it While there is a soul in prison I am not free

about

Rebel Tongues Living Tongues was put together by the Upstate NY I.W.W. and our friends to raise funds for our organizing workers. We have just finished our largest organizing training to date and have workers in a dozen shops.

This album continues the rebel traditions that have come together in our union, many peoples and many tongues working to end the wage system and liberate our class. From schedule changes to full worker control, sign on and sing along.

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released May 31, 2022

All credit to contributing artists
CD Mastering By William Russell

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James Connolly Upstate NY IWW Albany, New York

The James Connolly Upstate NY IWW branch is a union for all workers based in NY. Musicians and other workers wishing to organize can find us here upstatenyiww.wordpress.com/contact/

Our benefit album is out May 31st. Support our organizing workers!
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