For the record, here are the lyrics to "The Battle Hymn of Women," by Meredith Tax, http://www.meredithtax.org/songs. Maredith Tax also wrote There Was a Young Woman Who Swallowed a Lie

THE BATTLE HYMN OF WOMEN
(Meredith Tax)

Tune: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” 

 

I wrote this so we could sing it in our march for women’s freedom on International Women’s Day, March 8, 1970, the first time women had demonstrated on March 8 in Boston in many a year. The chorus, “Move on over or we’ll move on over you” is from a civil rights song by Len Chandler. This was recorded recently by Betsy Rose and is available at http://www.betsyrosemusic.org/

 

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the flame of women’s rage

Kept smoldering for centuries, now burning in this age.

We no longer will be prisoners in that same old gilded cage

That’s why we’re marching on.

 

CHORUS:

Move on over or we’ll move on over you

Move on over or we’ll move on over you

Move on over or we’ll move on over you

For women’s time has come!

 

You have told us to speak softly, to be gentle and to smile

Expected us to change ourselves with every passing style.

Said the only work for women was to clean and sweep and file

That’s why we’re marching on!

 

             CHORUS

 

It is we who’ve done your cooking, done your cleaning, kept your rules.

We gave birth to your children and we taught them in your schools.

We’ve kept the system running but we’re laying down our tools.

That’s why we’re marching on!

 

             CHORUS

 

You think that you can buy us off with crummy wedding rings

You never give us half the profit that our labor brings

Our anger eats into us, we’ll no longer bend to kings,

That’s why we’re marching on.

 

            CHORUS

 

We have broken through our shackles, now we sing a battle song

We march for liberation and we’re many thousands strong

We’ll build a new society, we’ve waited much too long,

That’s why we’re marching on!