The boss man wants our labor, and money to packaway,
The workers wants a union and the eight hour day.
The boss man hates the workers, the workers hates the boss,
The boss man rides in a big fine car, and the workers has to walk.
The boss man sleeps in a big fine bed, and dreams of his silver and gold,
The workers sleeps in an old straw bed and shivers from the cold.
Fred Beal [*] he is in prison, a-sleeping on the floor,
But he will soon be free again, and speak to us some more.
The union is a-growing, the ILD is strong,
We’re going to show the bosses that we have starved too long.
The workers wants a union and the eight hour day.
The boss man hates the workers, the workers hates the boss,
The boss man rides in a big fine car, and the workers has to walk.
The boss man sleeps in a big fine bed, and dreams of his silver and gold,
The workers sleeps in an old straw bed and shivers from the cold.
Fred Beal [*] he is in prison, a-sleeping on the floor,
But he will soon be free again, and speak to us some more.
The union is a-growing, the ILD is strong,
We’re going to show the bosses that we have starved too long.
Nota
[*] Fred Beal, militante comunista, sindacalista della National Textile Workers Union (NTWU) e membro della Trade Union Unity League (TUUL).
[*] Fred Beal, militante comunista, sindacalista della National Textile Workers Union (NTWU) e membro della Trade Union Unity League (TUUL).
inviata da Bernart Bartleby - 22/4/2015 - 16:32
Nel giugno del 1929, durante il duro sciopero dei tessili a Gastonia, uno sceriffo di nome Aderholt fu ucciso in una sparatoria con gli scioperanti, mentre senza mandato cercava di introdursi nottetempo nel campo alla ricerca di armi. Per l’omicidio furono arrestati Fred Beal ed altri scioperanti.
La canzone è quindi da datarsi proprio al 1929.
La canzone è quindi da datarsi proprio al 1929.
Bernart Bartleby - 22/4/2015 - 16:43
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Parole di Ella Mae Wiggins (1900-1929), sulla melodia di “Polly Wolly Doodle”, canzoncina popolare risalente al 1880.
Testo trovato sul sito del Ella May Wiggins Memorial Committee
Ella Mae Wiggins, cantautrice, giovane sindacalista e militante dell’International Labor Defense (ILD, il “Soccorso Rosso” americano), fu assassinata il 14 settembre 1929 durante lo sciopero alla Loray Mill di Gastonia, North Carolina.