Language   

The Preacher and the Slave, or Pie in the Sky, or Long Haired Preachers

Joe Hill
Back to the song page with all the versions


OriginalVersion française de Fred B.
THE PREACHER AND THE SLAVE, OR PIE IN THE SKY, OR LONG HAIRED PREACHERS

Long-haired preachers come out every night
Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right
But when asked how 'bout something to eat
They will answer in voices so sweet

You will eat, bye and bye
In that glorious land above the sky
- Way up high!
Work and pray, live on hay
You'll get pie in the sky when you die
- that's a lie!


And the Starvation Army, they play
And they sing and they clap and they pray
Till they get all your coin on the drum
Then they tell you when you're on the bum

You will eat, bye and bye
In that glorious land above the sky
- Way up high!
Work and pray, live on hay
You'll get pie in the sky when you die
- that's a lie!


Holy Rollers and Jumpers come out
And they holler, they jump and they shout
Give your money to Jesus, they say
He will cure all diseases today

You will eat, bye and bye
In that glorious land above the sky
- Way up high!
Work and pray, live on hay
You'll get pie in the sky when you die
- that's a lie!


If you fight hard for children and wife
Try to get something good in this life
You're a sinner and bad man, they tell
When you die you will sure go to hell.

You will eat, bye and bye
In that glorious land above the sky
- Way up high!
Work and pray, live on hay
You'll get pie in the sky when you die
- that's a lie!


Workingmen of all countries, unite
Side by side we for freedom will fight
When the world and its wealth we have gained
To the grafters we'll sing this refrain

You will eat, bye and bye
When you've learned how to cook and how to fry
Chop some wood, 'twill do you good
Then you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye
- that's no lie!


[LE PRECHEUR ET L'ESCLAVE]

Chaq' soir sortent des prêtres aux cheveux longs
qui t'expliquent c'qui est mal, c'qui est bon,
mais si tu d'mandes quekchose à manger,
ils te répondront d'une voix sucrée:

Tu mang'ras, plaise à Dieu,
dans ce glorieux pays au d'là des cieux
(monte-là d'ssus)
Travaille et prie, et bouffe du foin,
t'auras d'la tarte au ciel quand tu s'ras défunt
(c'est du flan!)


A l'Armée du Salut ils font du bruit,
ils chantent et applaudissent et ils prient
pour avoir ta monnaie dans la timballe
et constater que tu crèves la dalle

Tu mang'ras, plaise à Dieu,
dans ce glorieux pays au d'là des cieux
(monte-là d'ssus)
Travaille et prie, et bouffe du foin,
t'auras d'la tarte au ciel quand tu s'ras défunt
(c'est du flan!)


Quand tu t'bats pour tout' les bonnes choses de la vie,
ils te conseillent d'arrêter tous les conflits,
d'te mettre à genoux devant les patrons
à moins d'aller direct en enfer sinon.

Tu mang'ras, plaise à Dieu,
dans ce glorieux pays au d'là des cieux
(monte-là d'ssus)
Travaille et prie, et bouffe du foin,
t'auras d'la tarte au ciel quand tu s'ras défunt
(c'est du flan!)


Compagnes et compagnons de tous pays, unité,
côte à côte luttons pour la liberté,
la terre entière et ses richesses dans nos mains
nous chant'rons à tous les escrocs ce refrain:

Tu mang'ras, nom de Dieu,
quans tu sauras cuisiner et faire un feu,
coupe du bois, couds un peu,
et tu mang'ras ici-bas, nom de dieu,
(j'veux mon n'veu!)
Nota al testo / Note to lyrics


The chorus is sung in a call and response pattern.

You will eat [You will eat] bye and bye [bye and bye]
In that glorious land above the sky [Way up high]
Work and pray [Work and pray] live on hay [live on hay]
You'll get pie in the sky when you die [That's a lie!]


Thus the final verse becomes

You will eat [You will eat] bye and bye [bye and bye]
When you've learned how to cook and how to fry [How to fry]
Chop some wood [Chop some wood], 'twill do you good [do you good]
Then you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye [That's no lie]


The fourth verse is not normally sung today, probably because of the reference to "children and wife" not being gender-neutral. Other variations include changing the second line of the chorus to "In that glorious land up in the sky" and the last line of the third verse to "And you will eat on that glorious day." Workingmen is normally changed to working folks, as well. The above lyrics are from the 19th edition of the Little Red Songbook.

(en:wikipedia)


Back to the song page with all the versions

Main Page

Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.




hosted by inventati.org