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It​’​s A Long Way Down To the Soup Line - Joe Hill (1915)

from When We Stand Together by Magpie

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about

In San Francisco fellow worker Sam Murray wrote to Joe Hill in prison encouraging him to make new words for Jack Judge & Harry Williams’ 1914 hit song “It’s A Long Way to Tipperary”, which was one of the most popular songs in the entire English- speaking world, originally recorded by tenor John McCormack. Joe, understandably, had not heard the song, but agreed to do it if his friend would just send him the music. The economic depression was felt hard in the cities, and San Francisco was no exception. Joe offers the solution to the problems afflicting the working class: organize! Joe’s parody was first published as a song sheet for the
defense fund, and then in the 25th edition (1933) of the IWW’s Little Red Songbook.

lyrics

Bill Brown was just a working man Iike others of his kind.

He lost his job and tramped the streets when work was hard to find.

The landlord put him on the stem, the bankers kept his dough,
 And Bill heard everybody sing, no matter where he’d go:

Chorus:

 It’s a long way down to the soupline,
 tt’s a long way to go.

 It’s a long way down to the soupline and the soup is thin I know.

Good bye, good old pork chops, farewell, beefsteak rare It’s a long way down to the soupline but my soup is there.

So Bill and sixteen million men responded to the call

To force the hours of labor down and thus make jobs for all.

They picketed the industries and won the four-hour day
 And organized a General Strike so men don’t have to say:

The workers own the factories now where jobs were once destroyed

By big machines that filled the world with hungry unemployed.

They all own homes, they’re living well, they’re happy, free and strong,
 But millionaires wear overalls and sing this little song:

credits

from When We Stand Together, released July 23, 2022
Words by Joe Hill
Tune: “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”
(Jack Judge & Harry Williams) (1912/1914)

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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! ... more

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