Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain

Subject: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 01:35 PM

I am looking for the lyrics to this song which I first heard about 25 years ago. I believe it originated with the protest demonstrations at Seabrook, New Hampshire. Tom Paxton recently re-recorded it on one of his new albums. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 02:38 PM

Hi, Sol - can you give us any more of the song? I have a hazy recollection of a song like that. Maybe the snippets of what you remember will trigger memories in some of us.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 03:42 PM

Joe, I know how to hum the chorus, but I do not recall any more of the words.   I heard the song for the first time at the 1st Hudson River Revival that took place in Croton Point Park. Many of the Sloop Singers that year had been at the Seabrook, NH demonstrations, and it was also the year that Karen Silkwood made the news. I heard it sung at least 3 times during that festival & I think that Charlie King was one of the performers who did it. I heard it again about a month ago being sung by Tom Paxton. I believe it was on the Ron Olesko & Bill Hahn Traditions show on WFDU, where it was mentioned that Tom had a new CD out and that this song was on it. I wish I could transmit the tune to you over the net, but I do not read music and can not transcribe notes. I am one of these guys who does everything by ear.
SOL ZELLER

Subject: Lyr Add: LINKS ON THE CHAIN (Phil Ochs)
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 01:50 PM

Thought this might be the song. It's by Phil Ochs.

Come you ranks of labour, come you union core,
And see if you remember the struggles of before,
When you were standing helpless on the outside of the door,
And you started building links on the chain, on the chain.
You started building links on the chain.

When the police on the horses were waitin' on demand,
Ridin' through the strike with the pistols in their hands,
Swingin' at the skulls of many a union man.
As you built one more link on the chain, on the chain.
As you built one more link on the chain.

Then the army of the fascists tried to put you on the run,
But the army of the union, they did what could be done.
Oh the power of the factory was greater than the gun,
As you built one more link on the chain, on the chain.
As you built one more link on the chain.

And then in 1954, decisions finally made,
The black man was a-risin' fast and racin' from the shade,
And your union took no stand and your union was betrayed,
As you lost yourself a link on the chain, on the chain.
As you lost yourself a link on the chain.

And then there came the boycotts and then the freedom rides,
And forgetting what you stood for, you tried to block the tide,
Oh the automation bosses were laughin' on the side,
As they watched you lose your link on the chain, on the chain.
As they watched you lose your link on the chain.

And the same man telling you that they'll take your jobs away,
He's the same man who was scabbing hard, just the other day,
And your union's not a union 'till he's thrown out of the way,
And he's chokin' on your link on the chain, on the chain.
And he's chokin' on your link on the chain.

And now the times are telling you, the times are movin' on,
And you're fighting for the same things, the jobs that will be gone,
Well it's only fair to ask you boys: Which side are you on?,
As you're building all your links on the chain, on the chain,
As you're building all your links on the chain.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: Lyr Add: LINKS IN THE CHAIN (from Kate Wolf)
From: Stewart
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 02:12 PM

Phil Ochs' song "Just One More Link in the Chain" is here in the digtrad. Then there's the song by Kate Wolf "Links in the Chain" which I think was inspired by Phil Ochs' song and also Karen Silkwood.

LINKS IN THE CHAIN — Kate Wolf

She was willing to go ahead
   when other people were afraid
Remembered by the questions that she raised
Does the name Karen Silkwood
   mean anything my friend
She was another link in the chain

Just another link in the chain
   in the chain
Just another link in the chain
It's the truth growing stronger
   and the voices speaking louder
That makes us links in the chain

Who took the children from the mines
   the young women from the mills
When the bosses turned to look the other way
It was the rebel voices
   raised high against the wind
That fought for the rights we have today

Just another link...

It's the questions and the answers
   the knowing and the why
The standing up to the wrong things the we see
And it takes more than one
   before the battle's done
Someone else who's not afraid to be

Just another link in the chain
   in the chain
Just another link in the chain
Down through history
   it's been the same my friend
They've been links in the chain

Alt. first verse:

Willing to go ahead
   when other people were afraid
Remembered by the questions that they raised
Some dead and some in prison
   for the things that they believed
They were links in the chain

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 02:21 PM

...and that's why Roger and Stewart are two of my Mudcat Heroes. We have some extraordinary people around here, and Roger and Stewart are two of them.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: open mike
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 03:19 PM

Tom Paxton and Anne Hills sang Kate Wolf's Links in the Chain at the
Kate memorial festival last weekend...very moving. it is on thier
American Skies c.d. Which is chocked full of good songs...it was
good to see Anne, i heard she had some medical problems recently.
great to see Tom Paxton
and Anne Hills both going strong!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 05:46 PM

Kate Wolf's song is the one I was looking for. Thank you everybody.
SOL ZELLER

Subject: Lyr Add: LINKS IN THE CHAIN (from Paxton & Hills)
From: open mike
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 12:18 AM

this is how Tom paxton and Anne Hills sing it:
with an added verse...and other words substituted
for the Karen Silkwood line...

willing to go ahead
when other people were afraid
remembered by the questions that they raised
some dead, some in prison,
for the things that they believed
ther were links in the chain

        just another link in the chain
        just another link in the chain
        It's the truth growing stronger
        and the voices speaking louder
        that makes us links in the chain

who took the children from the mines
the young women from the mills
when the bosses turned to look the other way
it was the rebel voices raised against
the wind, raised high against the wind
that fought form the rights we have today

tom paxton's verse:
joe hill and mother jones
put their lives right on the line
a line that stretches back in history
now we ask ourselves the question
"are those days to gbe forgotten?"
or arte ther some of us who'll dare to be?

it's the question and the answers
the knowing and the shy
the standing up to wrong things that we see
and it takes more than one
before the battle's won
someone who is not afraid to be

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Just One More Link In The Chain
From: GUEST,open mike
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 02:05 PM

I think Joe Jencks sings a song similar to this, too. Joe Jencks title song Links in a Chain