Lyr Req: Join the Union (Brian McNeill)

Subject: Brian McNeill - Join the Union
From: GUEST,Mikey Joe
Date: 16 May 01 - 08:26 AM

Can anyone please help me find the lyrics to this great song. I've tried a search and looked around but with no success.

Go raibh maith agaibh

Mj

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill - Join the Union
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 May 01 - 08:40 AM

Mikey Joe - sorry I can't help you find the words, but I have a funny story about Brina, and this song.

My wife and I went to see Brian n concert with Ed Miller at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, TX. During the introduction Brian told the crowd, "I'm an old red from way back, and I don't care who knows it!" He tried to get the audience to sing "Join the Union" and raise their right hand in a fist - but rather then a spirited response, he got only a polite (limp) wave and whisper - after a couple of tries to warm the audiences partcipation he gave up saying he'd forgetten where he was ... and that Dallas TX was exactly a hotbed of socialism!

It was quite funny - and the audience enjoyed the song even if they weren't quite the activist types!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill - Join the Union
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 May 01 - 04:09 PM

ooops! My typographically challenged hands strike again!!1 I mean I can tel you funny story about Brian, and this song ... not Brina!

It was a great show, by the way. A small crowd in a lovely old stage. Brian and Ed just had a great time, and so did we!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill - Join the Union
From:
Date: 16 May 01 - 05:30 PM

Mikey Joe & Jed - I'm looking for help too. I called my local college station last week to find out the artist and album with the lyrics "We're the boys that broke the ground to join the Forth and Clyde". She gave me Brian Brian McNeil's name and the Digital Tradition site, which led me to Mudcat, where I found your Brian McNeill "thread". Can you help me with album title, label, and a good source to get it? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill - Join the Union
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 May 01 - 07:58 PM

Tom, 'The Boys That Broke the Ground' is on Brian's first solo album 'Unstrung Hero' (1985). The words are in the Battlefield Band Songbook. If they aren't in the DT (to find out how to search it go to the FAQ thread at the top) I'll copy them out for you before long and put them here.
As to 'Join the Union' (or 'Sell Your Labour Not Your Soul', the title given on the STUC centenary CD of 1996), I haven't got the words down yet, but I've got the CD and will see what I can do (not very likely before Whitsun, however).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brian McNeill - Join the Union
From: GUEST,Mikey Joe
Date: 18 May 01 - 02:49 PM

Thabnk you very much Susanne

I'll look forward to that.

Subject: Lyr Add: SELL YOUR LABOUR NOT YOUR SOUL (McNeill)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 04 Jun 01 - 05:33 PM

SELL YOUR LABOUR NOT YOUR SOUL
(Brian McNeill)

Chorus:
Young and old, true and bold
Sell your labour not your soul
Solidarity's your goal - join the union

Come and listen through the land, working woman, working man
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
Black, brown or white, get ready for the fight
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
Will you stand upon your rights or will you live upon your knees
Doff your cap and look away while the bosses take their ease

Unemployment is the fear the bosses whisper in your ear
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
Short term contract when they hire makes it easier to fire
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
More efficiency's the cry, technology's the game
And every dividend you double - well your wages stay the same

They say the unions' day is done and the country's moving on
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
Aye the government knows best, private sector does the rest
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
They'll privatise your hopes and they'll privatise your fears
If they catch your children crying they'll privatise their tears

We will rise, we will grow, we are stronger than we know
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
We will not be denied for we have right upon our side
Young and old, true and bold - join the union
So raise the banners high, let us all march behind
Let Scotland be the first to draw the new union line

[1996:] Brian wrote this song specially for the STUC Centenary album and recorded it while on an extensive tour of Germany in October, 1996, with guitar wizard Tony McManus, who sessioned on this track along with Dex Smith (keyboards and bass). The song needs no explanation. (Notes 'If It Wisnae for the Union - STUC Centenary Album')