Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)

Subject: Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)
From: chico
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 09:21 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)
From: chico
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 09:23 PM

Great, I just found it here

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=11545#86424

But the version is slightly different

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)
From: chico
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 09:25 PM

OK so the first line is
"This is your fight, brother, and mine"

However I still am missing the
" But it gets over you kinda like a [stink]"

Stink was the best guess I could make

Also,
" You dont have to live with your chin"
may not be accurate. . .someone who knows please correct.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Swinging on a Scab (Socialist Parody)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 09:37 PM

I don't 'know', but at a guess, wouldn't the line be 'You don't have to LEAD with your chin'?

The reference there would then be a boxing term - to 'lead with one's chin' was asking to be hit.