Lyr Add: God Bless Our Trade Unions

Subject: Lyr Add: God Bless Our Trade Unions
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 08 Sep 21 - 06:32 AM

I found this in the 4 Jun 1890 edition of The Worker (Brisbane), attributed to J.B.H. It doesn't seem to be in any Union songbooks.

GOD BLESS OUR TRADES UNIONS

You remember the fable by Aesop recited,
How each twig was broken when taken alone,
But a bundle of sticks when together united
All efforts to break them how useless was shown,

The moral thus taught in the far distant ages,
Is together to stick if you wish to be strong,
If you want shorter hours and increase in wages
You'll get it by "union," now see if I'm wrong.

Chorus:

God bless our Trades Unions and long may they flourish
The working man’s rights to procure,
Till all through the land federated they stand,
In one bond of union secure.

In our youth we were taught to bow to the wealthy,
And "labour" to "capital" always gave way,
But leaders and thinkers with precepts more healthy
Have opened our eyes to the light of the day.

For many a year has "capital" ruled it,
And the rights of the workman been treated with scorn,
But he's found out his pow'r and is learning to use it,
'Till labour triumphant to victory's borne.

Look at the case of the poor London " docker,"
When the half-famish'd creatures penny did crave;
A "penny an hour more!" Oh, what a shocker!
That cry to the greedy monopolists gave.

But encouraged by help from some of their fellows,
They determined to "strike" that their children might live ;
The cry of the starving swept over the billows,
Then came the grand help Australia did give.

Then selfishness let us now banish for ever,
In one common cause let us join hand in hand,
To free every "white slave" shall be our endeavour,
And misery sweep from the face of the land.

Let the deeds of dead patriots inspire us to action,
And urge us when faltering to efforts anew ;
Let "principle" rise above 'party" and "faction,"
The battle is ours if we will but be true.

--

Not sure what the tune was, I had a go at one here.

Hopefully someone who knows the history of Trade Unions in Brisbane in the late 1800s will know who J.B.H was.