Labor Songs
The American labor movement has a long and rich heritage of song. Like hymns and patriotic songs, union songs are songs with a message. Thousands have been written by union members and others over the years. These men and women, black and white, native American and foreign born, created their own literature reflecting every aspect of life in the mines, mills, factories, shops and farms where they were forced to labor. Their songs tell us of their agony and miserably long hours for pitifully low wages. We hear of their working conditions which were both dangerous and unsanitary. Unemployment was another horror they recounted in song. Equally important, they sang of the fighting spirit of the workers and their determined struggle to improve their conditions through organization. These songs tell the history of the American labor movement.
Early in our nation’s history, labor songs were passed about orally. Later, some journals offered songs and poems to readers. Following the Civil war, with the growth of strong national unions and federations, song books containing labor, socialist and populist songs were published regularly. Among the most famous was the little red songbook of the Industrial Workers of the World I.W.W. or Wobblies). The AFL-CIO still has a songbook today and many national unions continue to publish their own.
Labor songs can convey a sense of history to students as well as imagery and emotion. Labor songs range widely in time and probe deeply in spirit. Their purpose remains the same - to narrate a story, to capture a mood or to stimulate particular action. They express hope and sorrow, affirmation and protest, courage and despair.
The selective use of labor songs can help students develop an appreciation of the struggle of American workers to find dignity in the workplace. They can also help students develop a sense of empathy with those workers and understand the powerful force music can play in protest movements.
These songs can be used to enrich not only history classes, but they can be effectively integrated into English, Humanities, Economics, Government, Music, Art and Career and Technical Education.
In addition to traditional labor songs, in rock, blues, country, funk and every other musical style, working people have told their stories throughout America's history. The AFL-CIO has compiled a range of songs—including some labor classics and some you may never have encountered before. .
Undoubtedly the greatest song in American Labor history and one of the finest examples of how a literary form may serve as an organizing weapon is Solidarity Forever, written to the tune of John Brown’s Body by Ralph Chaplin. Chaplin was one of the early leaders of the I.W.W. and worked closely with William D. (“Big Bill”) Haywood. Soon after his release from prison in 1923, Chaplin expressed regret for his former activities in the labor movement. This song continued, however, to rally hundreds of thousands to the labor movement after its author had deserted it, and during the rise of the CIO, it was a regular feature on scores of picket lines. It is still the most popular and many consider it to be the “national anthem.” Hear Pete Seeger sing it here: www.youtube.com
The songs listed here have been saved in MP3 format. You will need a program like Windows Media Player to listen. or you could save them by right-clicking on the song name and choosing "Save Target As"
Babies in the Mill
Hard Times
Joe Hill
John Henry
Miners' Lifeguard
No Irish Need Apply
Solidarity Forever
Talking Union
Too Old to Work
Union Maid
Union Label
What Side Are You On?
Union Songs, Lyrics Only
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Songs Of The Labor Movement Listed By Artist
Lyrics Only
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Music and Our Reform History
Guide for Writing a Reform Song
Reform Song Rubric
Union Song Parodies
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You Tube features Union Songs by the Almanac Singers featuring Pete Seeger singing The Union Maid and Solidarity Forever along with a variety of other artists and songs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEZ2neLTSSw
