Right That Time, A song by Maurie Mulheron ©1998

    They speak about it proudly, it's now union folklore
    How wharfies wouldn't load any pig-iron for war
    Japan was a threat so they walked off the job
    They wouldn't help the fascists for old Pig-iron Bob

    Chorus:
    They were right that time and they're right again now
    But the strength of one isn't much of a power
    So united they stand against all odds
    Fighting for us all against the little tin gods

    Indonesia's young and fighting to be free
    But the Dutch had different plans for their former colony
    When the people rose up with freedom on their lips
    The wharfies stopped loading any Dutch bound ships

    Chorus:
    They were right that time and they're right again now
    But the strength of one isn't much of a power
    So united they stand against all odds
    Fighting for us all against the little tin gods

    Korea was in trouble, overrun by the Yanks
    Wharfies told to load rifles, guns and tanks
    Why get involved in this bloody civil war?
    We're not gonna ship any weapons anymore!

    Chorus:
    They were right that time and they're right again now
    But the strength of one isn't much of a power
    So united they stand against all odds
    Fighting for us all against the little tin gods

    Pig-iron Bob's back, says we're off to Vietnam
    Tugging his forelocks for good old Uncle Sam
    The seamen wouldn't work on the war ship 'Boonaroo'
    And the wharfies held the line when they sacked the ship's crew

    Chorus:
    They were right that time and they're right again now
    But the strength of one isn't much of a power
    So united they stand against all odds
    Fighting for us all against the little tin gods

    The struggle's moved on, mass sackings overnight
    The union's survival is the heart of the fight
    We'll defy your threats, your thugs and court
    We're standing united, no wharfie can be bought!

    Chorus:
    They were right that time and they're right again now
    But the strength of one isn't much of a power
    So united they stand against all odds
    Fighting for us all against the little tin gods

    History's on our side, we'll see this battle through
    There's too much at stake for the profits of the few
    Our fathers, before us, stood on every picket line
    Keep their mem'ries alive and we'll win every time.

    Last Chorus:
    They've been right ev'ry time and they're right again now
    But the strength of one isn't much of a power
    So united they stand against all odds
    Fighting for us all against the little tin gods

Notes Maurie Mullheron emailed this song as the Wharfies were mobilising for a battle to defend their right to organise. Today (Feb 9th 1998), the attempt by the National Farmers Federation and its Federal Government backers to set up a non union wharf at Web Dock in Melbourne is the main front of the battle. Maurie's song is a timely reminder of how far back the battle extends.
Maurie sings this song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms" which I have, & there are lots of good songs on it.

Audio