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There Is Power In A Union Lyrics

There is power in a factory, power in the land
Power in the hands of a worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand There is power in a Union

Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
War has always been the bosses' way, sir

The Union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and out sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union

Now I long for the morning that they realise
Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
When the bosses send their lackies out to cheat us?

Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
There is power in a Union

The Union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and out sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union.
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Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

this is a fucking great song! i can recall many a piss up ive been to where all the left wing comrades banded together wen we put on this song and chanted. geez... its a great way to piss rich kids off!

the meaning is pretty blunt.

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

Willia05, Its only through industrial action and negotiations undertaken through trade unions that workers have been able to gain improvements in their conditions and ensure legislation that ensures basic rights in the workplace - although, based on your comments, you are probably unable to appreciate the problems workers face in the absence of unions and representation. This song lets the importance of Solidarity be known - There is power in a Union!

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

the tune for this was lifted from the american civil war song 'battle cry of freedom'

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom; We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom. CHORUS: The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor and up with the star; While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom. We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom; And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom. We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom; And altho' they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom; And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best, Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

Great song! Not exactly subtle either.

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

willia05, where you come from is rather obviously not what the song is about

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

Yeah, but willia05 is wrong also, because it comes from Australia. The union movement in this country is what made it so strong and they are even more important now with all of the IR changes that are happening here.

I worked plenty hard in my job, was one of the hardest workers, but I was fired because I wouldn't sign their new contracts, which took away my sunday and public holiday pay. Probably hired some poor 16 year old in my place, and are in the process of rooting him. I'm not much older, but I know when i'm being taken advantage of.

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

sorry, I didn't mean to get too political. Let's keep it about the music!

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

LOL! Being political IS about Billy Bragg music.

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

willia05, sounds like you have no clue, mate.

Cover art for There Is Power In A Union lyrics by Billy Bragg

This is a great song. Good to see that berk willia05 has been shown to be firmly out of touch with what the majority of Australia believes, seeing as its almost a year since John Howard and the Liberal Party got their asses firmly kicked out of government.