Union songs with a great chorus?

Subject: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: gecko
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 08:04 PM

As next year's May Day March - Labour Day - promises to be the biggest ever on account of the despicable IR legislation and also the looming Federal election, I thought we might attempt to form a scratch union choir to perform on the day - 7 May 2007. In the happy event that the group enjoy themselves, perhaps a more permanent choir will emerge - I hope. The exciting thing is that our good friend and unionist, Danny Spooner, has indicated he will be more than happy to come to Cairns to conduct singing workshops to get us off the ground, as it were!.
I am hoping to involve ordinary workers and union members, and for the most part will be spending time encouraging the blokes to join in. If I've heard "Me! You wouldn't want me 'cos I can't sing a note" once, I've heard it ten times already - but only from the Brothers.
Most of the singers won't have much experience or confidence in their ability to sing, so the songs we select must be simple but stirring - which is where you 'catters come in. I'm looking for around half a dozen fairly upbeat union songs with great choruses to whet the appetite of reluctant singers!

I wish you a Happy New Year and may we all work towards a peaceful world in 2007 - which means Johnny must go for starters!

YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Peace
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 08:26 PM

"We Shall Not Be Moved";

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Hawker
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 08:44 PM

Miner's Lifeguard (Union Miners) comes to mind - a parody of 'Life's Railroad To Heaven' stonking good chorus
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 09:19 PM

Solidarity Forever
Working Man

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 09:25 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYiKdJoSsb8

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 09:46 PM

"The Internationale"

biLL

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 11:38 PM

Roll the Union On
Too Old to Work (Joe Glaser)
We Are Building a Strong Union

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 12:42 AM

Get Thee Behind Me Satan
Which Side Are You On?
You Gotta Go Down and Join the Union
The Union Maid


A

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,Peter Taylor
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 05:29 AM

'Bring out the Banners' was written by John Warner and set to the tune by Sir John Goss used for 'See amid the winter's snow'. It's been recorded by Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman on 'Unity', their most recent release.

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 05:49 AM

If its a chorus you're after - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KO90EdKB-g

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Cats
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 06:04 AM

Jon Heslops songs from the 1984/5 Miners Strike including 'Old Soldiers' and 'Fight Fight Fight [ What have we to show for...]

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 06:05 AM

Danny spooner also sings John's "banners!"

Gecko, try Mark Gregory's Union Song site, he has a great collection including lots of John's songs. John has written several simple songs, great for marching & demonstration that would probably be perfect fo your choir! John is a very occasional Mudcatter, so occasional it's best to contact him via JennyO.

This section deals with Oz IR laws

Mark is an occasional Mudcat visitor.

Intro to the Union Song site -

Call them rebel songs, slave songs, songs of freedom, work songs, songs of dissent, songs of struggle, protest songs, liberation songs, labour songs, workers songs, environmental songs, songs of equlity, peace songs.

For over two centuries working people across the world have built trade unions. This site documents the songs and poems that they made in the process, union songs. It includes songs and poems that are being written today, as the process of union building continues all around the world.

Such songs are the work of famous poets as well as men and women whose names have been forgotten. They stretch back to ancient times and are being created today.

'the struggle of people against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting'

sandra

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,mariner
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 07:30 AM

If you try Dave Burns's "Last Pit in the Rhonnda" I'm sure you'll find something to suit you .It's available on Wobbly Records . Contact at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 09:11 AM

http://www.ritamacneil.com/miningthesoul.htm#Working%20Man

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 09:12 AM

And something from Sydney's John Dengate would also be appropriate, I'm sure.

And you might want review some of the poems by Henry Lawson that commemorate labour struggles in late 19th century Australia.

I'm also fond of some of the organizing songs composed by Si Kahn.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 10:30 AM

DUMP THE BOSSES OFF YOUR BACK by John Brill. Wonderful refrain.
PREACHER AND THE SLAVE, POWER IN THE UNION by Joe Hill. Anything out of the LITTLE RED SONGBOOK published by the Industrial Workers of the World.

Copies are available at www.iww.org.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 04:22 PM

Hold the Fort
Union Maid
Miner' Lifeguard
Workers of the South (Rewrite of "Jacob's Ladder" Keep that Wheel a-Turnin' Pie In the Sky

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 29 Dec 06 - 04:31 PM

How aboot "Tolpuddle Man" by Graham Moore

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: gecko
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:15 AM

Thanks to everyone for their selections - I've got lots of material to be going on with. Special thanks to Stewie who is indefatigable (try saying that after a couple of glasses of bubbly!) in his efforts to help and assist one and all.

Have a good one tomorrow but keep in mind our 'friends in blue' (or khaki depending on where you are) are working on a commission at the moment!

YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: gecko
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:25 AM

Just noticed that someone had kindly added (UK) to the end of the thread name. That is incorrect and should be Australia of course - not that I'm an expert, but as far as I'm aware there is no such place name in the UK as Cairns.

YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: Noreen
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:04 AM

I don't know of a Cairns in UK either, and have notified the help forum.

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: JennyO
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 07:49 AM

Thanks Noreen. I nearly didn't open this thread because it said UK. I've told John about it, and he might post here in the next day or so - he's on his way to bed right now. He's quite interested in the idea. As well as "Bring Out the Banners", he's got a new song that would be very appropriate - Join Your Union to the tune of Guide me O thou Great Jehovah/Bread of Heaven/Cwm Rhondda.

If anyone wants to contact John, it would be best to send me a PM. He doesn't check his very often.

Then there's Albion's Shore, Joe Hill, and one we did in the Solidarity Choir - We Shall Not Give Up the Fight. You can do a lot with that one. Verses can be adapted to the occasion, the words are easy to teach, and it's suitably rousing.

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus? (UK)
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:29 AM

Coupla yrs ago a (musical) Scot was touring in USA. Came through Austin & appeared at Cactus Cafe. I got to go see him. Very good. Lots of old songs, newer written stuff. Comment passed about (then)current events which elicited the request from audience for Union or Worker songs. He said to let him consider it thru next few planned songs. What he eventually sang, a capella--LOUDLY--was a list of pithy, simple 2-line verses joined by an even louder 1-line refrain of "Join The Union!" Got the joint rockin'. Does it ring a bell? Don't know where to look it up, sorry.       Tw

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:49 AM

Which Side are You On is a haunting refrain.

"Joe Hill" doesn't have a chorus but a lot of people are familiar with it. At least in this neck of the woods.vl

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:55 AM

Maybe John Tams' 'Rolling Home' is suitable?

Find it here! The tune's not quite as I know it, though...!

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: JennyO
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:57 AM

Yes, I included Joe Hill because although it doesn't have a chorus as such, the last line is repeated, and as you said, Van Lingle, a lot of people are familiar with it. And it is very moving - a lot of people consider it to be an anthem of the Union movement.

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 09:52 AM

I was going to say 'Tolpuddle Man' but someone beat me to it.. but it's even more appropriate now that I learn you are in Australia.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were transported for life to Australia for forming the first ever recognisable Trade Union, so it's suitable on several levels.

LTS

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 10:20 AM

Right you are Jenny, re Joe Hill. I didn't see your mention of it first time around. vl

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: JohnB
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:52 PM

Tanywheelers mystery musician sounds a lot like Brian MacNiel. I know he has performed in Texas. He comes on stage starts a hand clap over his head sings "Join the Union" 75 times with versey bits inbetween, the audience are his, brilliant performer. Spent 25 years with the Battlefield Band and is Head of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh (I think) University, so I guess he paid his dues too.
It is a great union song but I don't know the words either.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: menzze
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:36 AM

In the mid 70s a band called the Strawbs had number 1 hit in England wich is "THE" union song since then for me. It is called "Part of the Union". Easy melodie, easy to learn chorus.
You find this song f.e. on their albums Halcyon Days,A Choice Selection of Strawbs, Bursting at the Seams

The words go like this:

Artist: Strawbs
Song: Part Of The Union



Now I'm a union man
Amazed at what I am
I say what I think, that the company stinks
Yes I'm a union man

When we meet in the local hall
I'll be voting with them all
With a hell of a shout, it's "Out brothers, out!"
And the rise of the factory's fall

Oh, you don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die

The union has made me wise
To the lies of the company spies
And I don't get fooled by the factory rules
'cause I always read between the lines

And I always get my way
If I strike for higher pay
When I show my card to the Scotland Yard
And this is what I say:

Oh, oh, you don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die

Before the union did appear
My life was half as clear
Now I've got the power to the working hour
And every other day of the year

So though I'm a working man
I can ruin the government's plan
And though I'm not hard, the sight of my card
Makes me some kind of superman

Oh, oh, oh, you don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die

You don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
You don't get me, I'm part of the union
Until the day I die
Until the day I die




Hope this can be needful

menzze

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:59 AM

I was waiting for this one to be posted, if you read the words carefully you might just find that this is a satire on union power, and not a paean of praise. It shows clearly in this verse.

"So though I'm a working man
I can ruin the government's plan
And though I'm not hard, the sight of my card
Makes me some kind of superman"

Giok

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: menzze
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 06:14 AM

ok, this is one way to look at it but you can also regard it as a slightly self ironie or an attempt to encourage yourself

menzze

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:32 PM

Tannywheeler, your 'mystery Scot' is indeed Brian McNeill, as John B suggests. Reading the thread title I immediately thought of his Sell your labour not your soul. It's easy and fun to sing, available on 'If It Wisnae for the Union - Scottish Trades Union Congress Centenary Album' (1996). Brian says he wrote the song specially for that album, but he often does it in concert and, by the sound of it, gets even union-haters to sing along.

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 02:45 AM

My vote goes with Number Six

Can't beat that one for collectivism or a nod from the executives over 70 years old.

What the

F.#@*^

do you mean by "despicable IR legislation"????

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Bugsy
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 02:04 AM

Hi Gecko,

Try this one for size Stand Together by Bernard Carney

It's a good rousing song.

If you listen real close you can hear me on the choruses.......


Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 03:07 AM

Put It on the Ground is a good one...

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: GUEST,neovo
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 04:03 AM

Black leg miner

Raise Your Banner High

Subject: RE: Union songs with a great chorus?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 06:36 AM

Guest - 2nd january -

Government version of new Industrial Relations laws

Union version of new Industrial Relations Laws

Voters reject IR reforms: Newspoll