DON'T SIGN UP FOR WAR
(Alistair Hulett)

See thon Arthur Henderson, heid bummer o' the workin, men    (leader)
When war broke oot he pressed his suit an' ran tae catch the train
He signed a deal in London, nae mair strikes until the fightin's done
In Glesga toon the word went roon'. Tak tent o' John Maclean   (pay heed to).

He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end
Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend
Don't sign up for war.
When they turned him oot o' Langside Hall, John stood up at the fountain
Whit he said was tailor-made tae magnify the friction
Ye patriots can roar and bawl, it's nought but braggarts fiction
The only war worth fightin' for is war against oppression.
He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end
Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend
Don't sign up for war.

The polis wheeched him oot o' there and doon tae Queens Park station (rushed)
They telt him plain offend again an' we'll mak' ye rue the day, son (told)
But Johnny didnae turn a hair, he ca'd for a demonstration
A mighty thrang ten thoosan strang turned oot against conscription    (crowd ten thousand strong)
He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end
Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend
Don't sign up for war.

The next time that they came for him, John kent they meant the business (knew)
He didnae plea for mercy, he said gi'e me British justice    (give)
The justice that he ca'd for stunned many intae silence (called)
When oot o' hell the hammer fell, three years was the sentence.
He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end
Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend
Don't sign up for war.

The clamour tae release Maclean reached fever pitch and mair, man   (more)
In a year an a' hauf they they ca'd it aff, but Christ it taxed him sair man   (sore)
He came back auld afore his time, but he didnae seem tae care. Man
Dae a' ye can, I'm still the wan wha'll cause ye tae beware, man.
He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end
Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend
Don't sign up for war.

The last time that they jailed Maclean he came gey close tae scunnert (to the brink of collapse)
Wi' a rubber hose pit up his nose they kept him swap suppert    (forcibly fed)
Let him oot or keep him in, Red Clyde was ower blaistert      (in an uproar)
Ilk wey they turnt the Government was weel and brawly gouthart. (which ever way) /(in a quandary).
He said a bayonet, that's a weapon wi' a working man at either end
Betray your country, serve your class. Don't sign up for war my friend
Don't sign up for war.