# Songs to sing for International Workers' Day
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 29, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691 "2004-04-29T16:20:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/1 "2004-04-29T16:20:10Z")
Let’s stick it to the man, man!
What should we sing at the Office International Workers’ Day Party?
We do little birthday celebrations here at the puzzle factory. The person whose birthday is May 1st has indicated her preference that we not sing “Happy Birthday” to her, buy a birthday card, etc., so the organizer has declared it to be a May Day Workers’ celebration, not a birthday celebration. He suggested “Joe Hill” or “We Shall Overcome” as possible songs – what are some others?
(No, not “Take This Job and Shove It” – c’mon, people, I know you can do better than that!)
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### Author:  [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/2 "2004-04-29T16:56:33Z")
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Oh, you said “work” not “out of work.”
[Emily Litella]Nevermind[/EL]
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/3 "2004-04-29T17:15:16Z")
“Seven and a Half Cents” from _The Pajama Game_ (“the first left-wing musical” – Godard)
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### Author:  [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/4 "2004-04-29T17:20:32Z")
The first thing that came into my mind when reading the OP was: “America works best when we say Union Yes!” and “Look for the union label”. (Not “songs”, I know.)
It’s amazing how effective a catchy tune can be to get an advertising message stuck in your head for years.
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### Author:  [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/5 "2004-04-29T17:43:57Z")
“Part Of The Union” by The Strawbs.
_You won’t get me, I’m part of the union
You won’t get me, I’m part of the union
You won’t get me, I’m part of the union
'Til the day I die, 'til the day I die_
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### Author:  [@laserkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laserkitty)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/6 "2004-04-29T17:49:35Z")
9 to 5 by Dolly Parton
"Working nine to five
what a way to make living
Barely getting by
it’s all taking and no giving.
They just use your mind
and they never give you credit
It’s enough to drive you crazy
if you let it."
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/7 "2004-04-29T19:51:16Z")
Well, It’d have to be **The Internationale** , wouldn’t it
“Arise ye workers from your slumbers
Arise ye prisoners of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
And at last ends the age of cant.”
Or the **Red Flag** :
“The people’s flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts blood dyed its every fold.”
Or else some Billy Brag (He also does versions of the above 2, but my favourite is
**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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### Author:  [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/8 "2004-04-29T23:10:00Z")
John Lennon’s [Working Class Hero](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/john-lennon/working-class-hero.html)
Woody Guthrie’s [Union Maid](http://www.google-lyrics.com/lyrics/lyrics_guthrie_woody_lyrics/guthrie_woody_union_maid_lyrics.html)
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### Author:  [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/9 "2004-04-29T23:29:16Z")
Since Woody Guthrie’s already been mentioned I thought I would add Bob Dylan’s [“Maggie’s Farm”](http://www.google-lyrics.com/lyrics/lyrics_bob_dylan_lyrics/bob_dylan_maggie_s_farm_lyrics.html) and [“Sixteen Tons.”](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/tennessee-ernie-ford/sixteen-tons.html)
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### Author:  [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/10 "2004-04-30T00:12:11Z")
Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money.”
I don’t suppose Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend” is quite what you’re looking for.
Merle Haggerd’s(?) “Working Man’s Blues.”
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/11 "2004-04-30T02:23:10Z")
It occurs to me that since this will be first thing Monday, we could do Elvis Costello’s _Welcome to the Working Week_ (“I know it don’t thrill you, I hope it don’t kill you”).
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### Author:  [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/12 "2004-04-30T03:43:18Z")
BTO’s [Taking Care of Business](http://www.inlyrics.com/display/Bachman-Turner_Overdrive_Lyrics/Taking_Care_Of_Business_Lyrics/24582.htm) ?
The Boomtown Rats’ [I Don’t Like Mondays](http://www.lyricsfind.com/b/boomtown-rats/unknown-album/i-don't-like-mondays.php) ?
Pink Floyd’s [Welcome To The Machine](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Welcome-to-the-machine-lyrics-Pink-Floyd/F79F8DEB4AB1E2F8482568A100051FA4) ?
😃
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### Author:  [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/13 "2004-04-30T03:48:40Z")
How about “Salt Miners Love the Sunshine”?
(I spotted that on a dusty old record album in a Chinatown store many years ago. I still regret not having bought the record, which was, if I recall, recorded by the “Red Army Chorus.” And, no, it was not a joke.)
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/14 "2004-04-30T04:00:17Z")
“Solidarity Forever.” It’s sung to the tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” so everyone should be able to catch on real quick.
_Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
For the union makes us strong!_
Even if you’re not in a union, it feels good to sing! (Especially all the verses)
History and lyrics to all the verses can be found here: [http://www.sccft1789.org/resources/songs.php#Solidarity](http://www.sccft1789.org/resources/songs.php#Solidarity)
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### Author:  [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/15 "2004-04-30T10:29:56Z")
This isn’t very singable, but I’m gonna throw it out there anyway.
The Police’s “Synchronicity II”.
Robin
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### Author:  [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/16 "2004-04-30T11:11:18Z")
Of course, you could play at confusing your co-workers with what they might justifiably regard as an impenetrable Scottish tongue twister. 🙂
[quote]
Sae come aa ye at hame wi freedom
Never heed whit the houdies croak for Doom
In yer hous aa the bairns o Aidam
Will fin breid, barley-bree an paintit room
Whan MacLean meets wi’s friens in Springburn
[/quote and so on
by Hamish Henderson
[http://www.dickalba.demon.co.uk/songs/texts/freecaye.html](http://www.dickalba.demon.co.uk/songs/texts/freecaye.html)
oh, all right then - here’s one with a jolly tune, and easy to sing
> [@](#):
>
> Avanti populo
> alla riscossa
> Bandiera rossa,
> bandiera rossa
>
> Avanti populo,
> alla riscossa
> Bandiera rossa
> la trionferá
> …
( I really doubt if the second one is in copyright, but being careful anyway.)
Of course, I can recall a friend’s (non-political) little chant
"Hooray hooray
the First of May
outside F\*\*\*ing starts today!
🙂
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/17 "2004-04-30T15:13:15Z")
Every band that’s hired for a May Day gig should know the old favorite about that Irish girl, **Molly Garrity Forever.**
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### Author:  [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/18 "2004-04-30T18:46:35Z")
Ah, a plethora of good selections! (And some silly ones.)
If you’re going to sing the Internationale, avoid that crusty old British version. It doesn’t even come close to translating the original French. Here’s a better version:
Arise, ye prisoners of starvation,
Arise, ye wretched of the earth -
For justice thunders condemnation
A better world’s in birth!
No more tradition’s chains shall bind us;
Arise ye slaves, no more in thrall!
The earth shall rise on new foundations -
We have been naught, we shall be all.
'Tis the final conflict
Let each stand in his place
The international working class
Shall free the human race (2x)
[Here](http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/int/int-piano.htm) is a piano score you can print out.
Let’s see, what else? Definitely “Solidarity Forever”; the link **Happy Lendervedder** provided is a great one, although I’d recommend adding this as the second verse:
It is we who plowed the prairies, built the cities where they trade;
Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid.
Yet we stand outcast and starving 'midst the wonders we have made -
But the union makes us strong!
[Chorus].
Hmm, what else? Oh yes, _definitely_ ‘Bandiera Rossa’. [This](http://www.dhnet.org.br/memoria/letrasrev/Partituras/15_bandierarossa.jpg) site may take a bit to load but it’s got the music and the words set to it. (Although I substitute the word “socialismo” for “comunismo” in the last line.)
To piss your boss off even more, sing [There is Power in a Union](http://www.billybragg.co.uk/releases/albums/talking_taxman/talking7.html), to the tune of [Battle Cry of Freedom](http://www.web-helper.net/PDMusic/101BestSongs/default.asp).
And, finally, a song about the fight which got us May Day in the first place - and remember, folks, May Day started right here in the US, not in Europe or revolutionary Russia - [The Eight Hour Song](http://www.chicagohs.org/dramas/prologue/theLinesAreDrawn/theLinesAreDrawn_f.htm).
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### Author:  [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/19 "2004-04-30T18:54:39Z")
Well there’s a nice little commie style singalong on the Dropkick Murphys newest record called “Workers Song” with the chorus:
"We’re the first ones to starve the first ones to die
The first ones in line for that pie-in-the-sky
And always the last when the cream is shared out
For the worker is working when the fat cat’s about
And when the sky darkens and the prospect is war
Who’s given a gun and then pushed to the fore
And expected to die for the land of our birth
Though we’ve never owned one lousy handful of earth"
and there’s always Dead Kennedys’ “At My Job”:
“I’m working at my job, I’m so happy,
More boring by the day, but they pay me”
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-sing-for-international-workers-day/242691/20 "2004-04-30T19:41:46Z")
The entire Woody Guthrie corpus, including “Pastures of Plenty” and “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)”.
The Stones’ “Salt of the Earth”
In these times, Phil Och’s “I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore” and “The Men Behind the Guns”
Or this classic from the Wobblies (the IWW, not a rock group)"
> [@](#):
>
> I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, live as you and me
> Said I, “But Joe, you’re ten years dead” “I never died”, said he
> “I never died”, said he
> …
> From San Diego up to Maine, in every mine and mill,
> Where workers strike and organize, it’s there you’ll find Joe Hill,
> It’s there you’ll find Joe Hill