Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF HARRY BRIDGES ^^
From: Amergin
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 12:12 AM

Well....on a lark I went searching the forum and the DT for The Ballad of Harry Bridges....and to my surprise there was nothing at all...

This man is one of the most important figures in the history of the US Pacific Coast....he organised the longies and fought for the security that they so richly deserve....that all working men and women deserve....

THE BALLAD OF HARRY BRIDGES

Let me tell you of a sailor, Harry Bridges is his name,
An honest union leader whom the bosses tried to frame,
He left home in Australia, to sail the seas around,
He sailed across the ocean to land in Frisco town.

There was only a company union, the bosses had their way.
A worker had to stand in line for a lousy dollar a day.
When up spoke Harry Bridges, "Us workers got to get wise.
Our wives and kids will starve to death if we don't get organized."

CHORUS (AFTER MOST OR ALL VERSES):
Oh, the FBI is worried, the bosses they are scared
They can't deport six million men they know.
And we're not going to let them send Harry over the seas.
We'll fight for Harry Bridges and build the CIO.

They built a big bonfire by the Matson Line that night.
They threw their fink books in it and they said we're going to fight.
You've got to pay a living wage or we're going to take a walk.
They told it to the bosses but the bosses wouldn't talk.

They said there's only one way left to get that contract signed.
And all around the waterfront they threw their picket line.
They called it Bloody Thursday, the fifth day of July,
Four hundred men were wounded and two were left to die.

Now that was seven years ago and in the time since then
Harry's organized thousands more and made them union men.
"We must try to bribe him," the shipping bosses said,
"And if he won't accept the bribe, we'll say that he's a red."

The bosses brought a trial to deport him over the seas,
But the judge said, "He's a honest man, I got to set him free,"
Then they brought another trial to frame him if they can.
But right by Harry Bridges stands every working man.

Words by Lee Hays, Millard Lampell and Pete Seeger (1942) Music: traditional ("The Great American Folk Melody") (c) 1966 by Stormking Music Inc. ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 05:41 AM

Good song, Amergin. It reminded me of a song about another Harry, Harry Pollitt.

The People's Song Book says the tune for "The Ballad of Harry Bridges" is derived from "Little Old Sod Shanty." I transcribed the tune and sent it to Mudcat MIDIs.
-Joe Offer-

Arlo Guthrie performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpBzT3XZfeg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 08:47 AM

On the same subject there's THE BALLAD OF BLOODY THURSDAY in the Database, which goes to a Streets of Laredo tune

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 10:40 PM

meant to add this.

30 plus years ago I was freshly home from an Oregon sojourn and pretty broke. Too few gigs and a new son so I drove a cab for a year in Chicago. The cabdrivers were in a fight for a union. The Teamsters wanted in and cabs were being found in the Chicago River. But the cabbies wound up goin' for the Seafarers Union then. After an accident I decided to try music full time (that's a laugh) and I walked away & never looked back. I have no idea who represents the cabdrivers of Chicago now---if anybody?! But I seem to remember having union dues held out of a check -- and it was for the Seafarer's Union.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Amergin
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 05:42 PM

I am just refreshing this thread....because 67th anniversary of Bloody Thursday is next week (on the 5th)...and the waterfront shuts down around here..so all the longies can celebrate and whatnot...I was also wondering if there are anymore stories you oldtimers have any stories you'd like to share about this...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: northfolk/al cholger
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 09:37 PM

The Seafarers International Union, SIU, Represents fresh water sailers, on the Great lakes... The International Longshorworkers Union,ILWU, Harry Bridges Union is predominately on the West Coast... and very few unions are as principaled and militant to preserve and defend their membership. On the east Coast the International Longshoremans Association, ILA is being attacked in South Carolina in a way that should be resisted by all who seek fairness.

The leaders of ILA have been beaten and Jailed and are being charged with criminal riot, and are being prosecuted under the RICO statutes. Labor, Civil Rights, Community and Social Justice activists are rallying to their defense.

Not only is this an attempt to break a strong local union, it is a retaliation against the Union leader who led the fight to get the confederate battle memorial taken down off the SC state capitol building. Had to go on that rant... in the spirit of Harry Bridges!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Amergin
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 06:46 PM

Well, I wish the folks in the ILA the very best!

Today is the day....Bloody Thursday....to Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise may their memories be strong in the working class of the world....

an injury to one is an injury to all

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 22 Jun 23 - 09:47 PM

Harry Bridges, legendary labor leader of the ILA/ILWU for 40 years,
and the San Francisco General Strike.

A one-man show, written and performed by Ian Ruskin titled
FROM WHARF RAT TO LORDS OF THE DOCKS
is available on DVD.

The incredible soundtrack has contributions from The Almanac
Singers (Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Millard Lampell,Lee Hays),
Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Jackson Brown and
others.

A supplemental disc includes interviews and other documentation
of Bridges and this production.

The ALMANACS wrote, toured and recorded the BALLAD OF HARRY
BRIDGES in 1941 (a copy included in the supplements), and
was a fund raiser for Harry Bridges defense.

https://www.youtube.com/harrybridgesproject
https://www.ruskinproductions.com/bridges
https://www.ruskinproductions.com/shop


Thomas.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 22 Jun 23 - 10:07 PM

another link for HARRY BRIDGES - University of Washington

https://depts.washington.edu/dock/Harry_Bridges_intro.shtml

Enjoy!
Thomas.