The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #84869   Message #1568850
Posted By: chico
22-Sep-05 - 09:21 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)
Subject: Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)
This is a transcription of an old recording from some vintage songs of political motivations. It's "Swinging on a Scab" to the tune of "Swinging on a Star". I have almost all the words but had to guess for one or two. Perhaps someone can correct and finish this excellent historical parody (This is from the late forties or at the latest 1950's). Anywords in [] Brackets are the ones I'm not sure are correct and had to guess/reconstruct.


F7      E7                   A7
This is your fine brother in [rhyme]
         D7                  G   (F7)
Are you gonna stick on the line
         E7                  A7 (D7)
Till we force the bosses to sign
                           G
Or would you rather be a SCAB? (Fink/Stool/Goon)

   G         C            G          C
A SCAB is an animal that walks on his knees
G            C          G    7
He sniffs every time the bosses sneeze
    A7                      D
His back is brawny but his brain is weak
      Em7         A7            D         7
He's just plain stupid with a yellow streak
            G            C             G   (F7 E7)
But if you dont care whose back it is you stab
(Am7)       D7          G
Go right ahead and be a SCAB.

A fink is an animal that smells like a skunk
He's two brackets lower than a punk
He's makes his living on breaking strikes,
Cause busting unions his job he likes
But it gets over you kinda like a [stink]
Go right ahead and be a FINK

A STOOL is an animal with long hairy ears
He runs back with everything he hears
He ain't no bargain though he can be bought
Though he's slippery he still gets caught
But if you're cut out to be a dirty tool
Go right ahead and be a STOOL.

A GOON is an animal that's terribly shy
He can't stand to look you in the eye
He rides to work on a cops coattails
And wears brass knuckles to protect his nails
But if your heads like a hole in a bassoon
Go right ahead and be a GOON.

FINAL REFRAIN
You dont have to live with your chin
You can pick your side an pitch in
Cause the union's going to win
                         G (G/F# Em A7)
Until the day the bosses sign
               D7               G
We're gonna stick right on the line.