Socialist/Anarchist Songs

[In Bloom]

I'm pretty sure there's a third verse where he gets kicked out of heaven by the angels for scabbing on them as well, have the IWW song book at home somewhere, will check.

 

[belboid]

I'm pretty sure there's a third verse where he gets kicked out of heaven by the angels for scabbing on them as well, have the IWW song book at home somewhere, will check.

there certainly was:

They got together, and they said it wasn't fair,
For Casey Jones to go around a'scabbing everywhere.
The Angels' Union No. 23, they sure were there,
And they promptly fired Casey down the Golden Stairs.

Casey Jones went to Hell a'flying;
"Casey Jones," the Devil said, "Oh fine:
Casey Jones, get busy shovelling sulphur;
That's what you get for scabbing on the S. P. Line."

 

[In Bloom]

there certainly was:

They got together, and they said it wasn't fair,
For Casey Jones to go around a'scabbing everywhere.
The Angels' Union No. 23, they sure were there,
And they promptly fired Casey down the Golden Stairs.

Casey Jones went to Hell a'flying;
"Casey Jones," the Devil said, "Oh fine:
Casey Jones, get busy shovelling sulphur;
That's what you get for scabbing on the S. P. Line."

Cheers

 

[articul8]

Sorry I missed that off - its the best bit!

 

[belboid]

kinda the point even!

 

[cathal marcs]

Well now, Stalin wasn't stallin'
> > When he told the beast of Berlin
> > That they'd never rest contented
> > Till they had driven him from the land.
> > So we called the Yanks and English,
> > And proceeded to extinguish
> > Der Fuehrer and his vermin,
> > This is how it all began.

Anyone know where I can get a copy of this song? I like the sound of it

 

[Ryazan]

I have inspired a decent thread.

What about Rebel Girl....

 

[Ryazan]

The Preacher and The Slave. "Pie in the Sky...."

 

[Fedayn]

This was becoming the song of choice, anthem, at international gatherings such as ESF's G8 etc, , still is i think


Bella ciao!

Una mattina mi son svegliata,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao,
bella ciao ciao ciao,
una mattina mi son svegliata
ed ho trovato l’invasor.

Oh partigiano, portami via,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao,
bella ciao ciao ciao,
oh partigiano, portami via
che mi sento di morir.

E se io muoio da partigiano,
Oh bella ciao, bella ciao,
bella ciao ciao ciao,
e se io muoio da partigiano
tu mi devi seppellir.

Seppellire lassù in montagna,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao,
bella ciao ciao ciao,
seppellire lassù in montagna
sotto l’ombra di un bel fior.

E tutti quelli che passeranno,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao,
bella ciao ciao ciao,
e tutti quelli che passeranno
diranno guarda che bel fior.

È bello il fiore del partigiano,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao,
bella ciao ciao ciao,
è bello il fiore del partigiano,
morto per la libertà!

Was over in Rome last May (for the Roma Lazio derby) when myself and mate 'walked into' a big anti school privatisation demo and ended up with the Rifondazione contingent singing this.... sounds much better done by Italians

 

[cathal marcs]

It's in the evening after dark,
When the blackleg miner creeps to work,
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner!

Well he grabs his duds and down he goes
To hew the coal that lies below,
There's not a woman in this town-row
Will look at the blackleg miner.

Oh, Delaval is a terrible place.
They rub wet clay in the blackleg's face,
And around the heaps they run a foot race,
To catch the backleg miner!

So, dinna gang near the Seghill mine.
Across the way they stretch a line,
To catch the throat and break the spine
Of the dirty backleg miner.

They grab his duds and his pick as well,
And they hoy them down the pit of hell.
Down you go, and fare you well,
You dirty blackleg miner!

Oh, it's in the evening after dark,
When the blackleg miner creeps to work,
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner!

So join the union while you may.
Don't wait till your dying day,
For that may not be far away,
You dirty blackleg miner!

 

[treelover]

There must be many many songs written about scabs , they certainly engender such powerful emotions

 

[rednblack]

When the moon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more lies and no derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius
Aquarius

Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in

Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in

Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in

 

[gurrier]

My favourite: (rusty translation from french follows)

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Tes drapeaux sont noirs dans le vent
ils sont noirs de notre peine
ils sont rouges de notre sang

Par les monts et par les plaines
dans la neige et dans le vent
à travers toute l'Ukraine
se levaient nos partisans.

Au Printemps les traités de Lénine
Ont livré l'Ukraine aux Allemands
A l'automne la Makhnovtchina
Les avait jeté au vent

L'armée blanche de Denikine
est entrée en Ukraine en chantant
mais bientôt la Makhnovtchina
l'a dispersée dans le vent.

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Armée noire de nos partisans
Qui combattait en Ukraine
contre les rouges et les blancs

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Armée noire de nos partisans
qui voulait chasser d'Ukraine
à jamais tous les tyrans.

*************

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
your flags fly black in the wind
they are black with our suffering
they are red with our blood

over mountains and through plains
in the snow and in the wind
across the whole Ukraine
Our partisans are rising up

In the spring Lenin's treaties
Delivered Ukraine to the Germans
By Autumn the Makhnovschina
Had cast them to the wind

Denikin's white army
Entered the ukraine singing
But soon the makhnovtschina
had scattered them in the wind

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Black army of our partisans
Who battled in the Ukraine
Against the whites and the reds

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Black army of our partisans
Who wanted to chase all tyrants
from Ukraine for all time.

 

[rednblack]

that is i may have to rewrite it slightly (so it scans a bit)...

 

[past caring]

More of a footie chant than a song - but still class,

"cockney rebel's workers defence squads
cockney rebel's workers defence squads
cockney rebel's workers.........."

 

[Chuck Wilson]

Anyone know where I can get a copy of this song? I like the sound of it

Robert Wyatt did a version of it, I can't remember on what album so you will have to Google it.

 

[Chuck Wilson]

More of a footie chant than a song - but still class,

"cockney rebel's workers defence squads
cockney rebel's workers defence squads
cockney rebel's workers.........."

Perleez......

cockneyrebel
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,345
The future for the left in the UK
Just wondered what people thought the prospects were over the next decade?

And if people could resist from putting up their oh so funny piss take comments and sectarian digs that might help.

 

[Mr_Smin]

Here's a few modern ones

Does anyone know of links to socialist and anarchist songs?

Are any made any now days?

Tom Lehrere wrote a song called "The Folk Song Army" with the lines:
Remember the war against Franco. That's the kind where each of us belongs.
Though he may have won all the battles, we had all the good songs

David Rovics http://www.davidrovics.com/ is still at it - almost too prolific (I feel some of his recordings need more polish) and all available for free download.
Robb Johnson http://www.robbjohnson.co.uk/ is a local lad (if SE England is local for you).
Attila the Stockbroker http://www.attilathestockbroker.com/
--All have at least some of their material as free, legal download.

 

[Idris2002]

My favourite: (rusty translation from french follows)

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Tes drapeaux sont noirs dans le vent
ils sont noirs de notre peine
ils sont rouges de notre sang

Par les monts et par les plaines
dans la neige et dans le vent
à travers toute l'Ukraine
se levaient nos partisans.

Au Printemps les traités de Lénine
Ont livré l'Ukraine aux Allemands
A l'automne la Makhnovtchina
Les avait jeté au vent

L'armée blanche de Denikine
est entrée en Ukraine en chantant
mais bientôt la Makhnovtchina
l'a dispersée dans le vent.

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Armée noire de nos partisans
Qui combattait en Ukraine
contre les rouges et les blancs

Makhnovtchina, Makhnovtchina
Armée noire de nos partisans
qui voulait chasser d'Ukraine
à jamais tous les tyrans.

.

That's the best yet! Thanks!

 

[Chuck Wilson]

Slightly off topic but what about chants on marches?

Here is one that I remember the iMG chanting..

Unemployment and inflation are not caused by immigration
Bullshit!
Come off it!
The enemy is profit.

 

[Idris2002]

What's that song in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, the one that goes 'our homeland is the whole world'?

 

[belboid]

Slightly off topic but what about chants on marches?

Here is one that I remember the iMG chanting..

Unemployment and inflation are not caused by immigration
Bullshit!
Come off it!
The enemy is profit.

we were using that again on the anti-section 9 demo in Bolton at the begnning of this month, first time I'd heard it out in years!

 

[belboid]

What's that song in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, the one that goes 'our homeland is the whole world'?

It's only mentioned in ADoaA - by the Fool, who calls it the Anarchist Hymn.

"Our homeland is the whole world. Our law is liberty. We have but one thought, revolution in our hearts."

 

[Chuck Wilson]

we were using that again on the anti-section 9 demo in Bolton at the begnning of this month, first time I'd heard it out in years!

How about one I heard outside the Tory Party coinferenvce in Blackpool at the time of the Sara Keys affair:

Maggie Maggie Maggie
Out
Out
Out
(Cecil) Parkinson Parkinson Parkinson
In
Out
In
Out
Shake it all about

 

[belboid]

aah yesa, I remember that - could still use it re Blunkett I suppose.

 

[butchersapron]

That's the best yet! Thanks!

Ands the french band Bérurier Noir do a great version of it complete with martial drums.

 

[Isambard]

I remember being on a demo in London where we only had half the road against oncoming traffic so the chat went up:

"The police suggest
You keep to the left"

 

[JonnyT]

David Rovics - Vanguard

Worker's World says that they have all the answers
And Milosevic is a guy that they admire
The ISO says Trotsky is the man
And they'll debate it until they all expire
The industrial workers will lead the revolution
So claims the SWP
No, the truth lies among the lumpen
That's the RCP

The Sparts say the rest can go to hell
And everyone else is a Stalinist
The CP will just do their thing
And pretend the others don't exist
Well I had a realization this morning
When I looked into the red and dawning sun
I've figured out the truth
And I'm forming a party of one

(Chorus)
I am the leader of the workers
And I'll tell you why the Left is suspect
Because there's something you don't understand
Only my line is correct
'Cause I am the vanguard of the masses
And all of you should just follow me
If you doubt my analysis
You must be in the petty bourgeoisie

But I am not sectarian
It's all the rest who are
I work fine in coalitions
As long as I'm the shining star
So bow down to your master
The lastest V.I. Lenin
And off to the camps to all of you
Who'd say, "not this again"

(Chorus)

And I'll have no music at my protests
And none of that goddamn puppetry
I'll just have some somber slogans
No decadent frivolity
My chants will be the right ones
Just the ones that should be said
And my banners we'll wave proudly
Just the proper shade of red

And I will build the party if it kills me
I am solely dedicated to the cause
If I have to stab you in the back
This won't give me pause
'Cause my platform will take us forward
And the ends always justify the means
And you must step aside behind me
Be you Quakers, Jews, anarchists or greens

(Chorus)

 

[aurora green]

World turned Upside Down:


In 1649
To St George's Hill
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Come to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the law
They were the dispossessed
Reclaiming what was theirs

'We come in peace' they said
'To dig and sow
We come to work the land in common
And to make the waste land grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it can be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No one has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Rise up at their command

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feeds the rich
While poor men starve

We work, we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to masters
Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
Al people one
We come in peace -
The order came to cut them down

 

[knopf]

World turned Upside Down

Can't listen to that song without it bringing tears to my eyes. [/big soft git]