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SINGING FOR OUR LIVES
Words & Music: Holly Near © 1979 Hereford Music
WE ARE GENTLE ANGRY PEOPLE
AND WE ARE SINGING, SINGING FOR OUR LIVES
WE ARE GENTLE ANGRY PEOPLE
AND WE ARE SINGING, SINGING FOR OUR LIVES.
VERSES:
WHEN WE WIN A LIVING WAGE
Tune: When the Saints Go Marching In
Words: Julie McCall
Verse 1 Oh when we win- a living wage
Oh when we win a living wage
CHORUS:
Oh how I want to be in that number
When we win a living wage.
Verses:
2. And when the bo-sses earn their pay…
CHORUS…etc.
3. When every work-er has a job…
4. When healthcare is- a right for all…
5. When equal work-gets equal pay…
Final Verse:
When every work-er’s organized
When every worker’s organized
We will all be there in numbers
When every worker’s organized!!!
WE WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY
Tune: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Words: Julie McCall
CHORUS:
We wish you a happy holiday (3x)
And a joyous New Year!
Verse 1: We thank one and all
For support that you bring
Through the halls of our office
Solidarity rings!
CHORUS
Verse 2: A contract takes talk
And talking takes two
Without good faith bargaining
There’s no peace for you!
CHORUS
Verse 3: On Kwanzaa or Christmas
And Hanukkah too
A season of justice
Is our wish for you!
Alternate CHORUS: (UNITE:Plastonics strike)
We wish you a merry Christmas
We don’t want to stop your business
But we really need a contract
And we need it right now!
WARRIOR
(Tune/author unknown)
_______ _______ is a warrior!!! HOO!!!
_______ _______is a warrior!!! HOO!!!
Everywhere you go, you can hear them say
_______ ______is a warrior!!! HOO!!!
(find musical notation in booklet download)
THE PEACE SONG (Tune: ROSE, ROSE)
Peace, peace, peace peace
Wars have been and wars must cease
We must learn to live together
Peace, peace, peace.
Find musical notation in the DOWNLOAD section)
THE UNION IS A LION
(Tune/Author: Unknown)
(1199-As sung on the Kingsbridge Nursing Home Picket Line,
Bronx, NY and Avery Heights Picket Line, Hartford CT
You’re wrong to trouble the union-You’re wrong!
You’re wrong to trouble the union-You’re wrong!
The union is a lion, the lion will devour you!
You’re wrong to trouble the union-You’re wrong!
(and: Trouble the students, the people etc…
(Find musical notation in the DOWNLOAD section)
UNION
Tune: AMEN, Trad., Gospel
CHORUS:
Union, union, union, union, union
(or Freedom, freedom, etc.)
All: Call:
Verse1: Union Everybody now!
Union Stand together
Union, union, union!
Verse 2: Union We can make it!
Union They can’t take it from us
Union, union union!
Verse 3: Union Raise your voices
Union Sing for justice
Union, union, union!
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE/STUDY WAR NO MORE
Tune: Trad. – Black Spiritual
Verse 1:
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside (3x)
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Study war no more.
CHORUS:
I (or: We) ain’t a-gonna study war no more (6x)
Verse 2: We’re gonna join hands around the world…
Verse 3: We’re gonna sing out until we’re heard…
Verse 4: We’re gonna vote you out or vote you in…
GET UP! ARRIBA!
Tune: Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up!”
Get up – ¡Arriba!
Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights… (repeat back)
Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight!… (repeat back)
(or Healthcare is our right; (or: Justice…..) (or Housing…..) etc.
Stand Up – ¡Levántate!
Carry on the fight!
Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight!
LISTEN
Tune: Frère Jacques, Trad. – French
Listen ______ , Listen ______
Do you hear? Do you hear?
We want ______ , We want ______
Is that clear? Is that clear?
DE COLORES
Tune: Trad. – United Farmworkers (UFW) anthem
Many beautiful versions on YouTube
Verso 1: De colores, de colores se visten los
campos en la primavera
De colores, de colores son los pajaritos
Que vienen de afuera
De colores, de colores es el arco iris
Que vemos lucir.
CORO:
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos
colores me gustan a mí (2x)
Verso 2:
Canta el gallo, canta el gallo con el
Kiri, kiri, kiri, kiri, kiri
La gallina, la gallina con el
Cara, Cara, Cara, Cara, Cara
Los polluelos, los polluelos con el
¡Pío, Pío, Pío, Pío, Pí-!
CORO
SHARE THE DOUGH
Tune: “Let it Snow”
Words: Julie McCall
Verse 1:
While the minimum wage is frightful
For the wealthy life’s delightful T
ell those millionaire CEO’s
Share the dough! (repeat 3x)
Verse 2:
The battle around us rages
As we fight for living wages
And we want to get what we’re owed
Share the dough! (repeat 3x)
CHORUS:
We leave families home at night
Working two jobs is the norm
And we know that it’s just not right
This system needs some reform.
Verse 3:
The economy’s globalizing
In the streets we’re organizing
And we’re making our movement grow
Share the dough! (repeat 3x)
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
Tune: Trad. – Gospel
CHORUS:
This little light of mine, I’m/(We’re) gonna let it shine
This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine
(or: With the light of the mighty ninety-nine!)
Verses:
1. Everywhere we go, we’re gonna let it shine…
2. No one is illegal, we’re gonna let it shine…
3. Through these prison walls, we’re gonna…
4. From Wall Street to the White House…
5. Hide it under a bushel NO!!!
6. Ain’t nobody gonna “whoof” it out
(hold up your index finger and “blow” it out)
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
Tune:Trad.-Black Spiritual
CHORUS: We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
Just like a tree that’s standing by the water
We shall not be moved.
Verses:
1. The union is behind us, we shall not be moved (2x)-CHORUS
2. We’re black, brown, white together, etc…
3. We’re singing for our children, etc…
4. We’ll stand and work together, etc…
5. We’re old and young together, etc…
6. We’re gay and strait together, etc…
7. No one is ILLEGAL! etc…
En Espanol:
CORO: No, no, no, no nos moveran (2x)
Como un árbol firme junto al rio
No nos moveran,
Versos:
1. Unidos venceremos no nos moveran (2x)
(or fuertes somos ya!)
2. Unidos en la lucha…..
3. Unidos en la huelga…
4. Trabajando y cantando…
5. Jovenes y viejos…
6. Luchamos por los hijos…
7. Fuertes, fuertes fuertes somos ya…
PEACE SALAAM SHALOM
d Music: Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow
of Emma’s Revolution. Used with Permission.
Find it on youtube
ROUND:
Peace, salaam, shalom (repeated 4 x))
Verses:
1. We believe in peace
2. We will work for peace
3. We can live in peace
SOLIDARITY FOREVER
Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic, Words: Ralph Chaplin
Verse 1:
When the union’s inspiration
Thru the workers’ blood shall run
There can be no power greater
Anywhere beneath the sun
Yet what force on earth is weaker
Than the feeble strength of one
For the union makes us strong.
CHORUS:
Solidarity forever (3x)
For the union makes us strong.
Verse 2:
They have taken untold millions
That they never toiled to earn
But without our brain and muscle
Not a single wheel can turn
We can break their haughty power
Gain our freedom when we learn
That the union makes us strong.
CHORUS
Verse 3:
In our hands is placed a power
Greater than their hoarded gold
Greater than the might of armies
Magnified a thousand-fold
We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old
For the union makes us strong
CHORUS
En Español
Verso 1:
Lleveremos en la sangre
La grandeza sindical
No tendrá poder más grande
El laborismo mundial
Compañero si eres débil
Con tu fuerza individual
Que viva la unión.
CORO:
Solidaridad por siempre
Solidaridad por siempre
Solidaridad por siempre
Que viva la unión
(or: Con la fuerza sindical)
Rockin’ SOLIDARITY FOREVER-CHORUS
(It’s great when you jazz up the chorus)
(Come on people now)– Solidarity forever
(Everybody needs) -Solidarity forever
(People crying for) -Solidarity forever
It’s the union-Yeah– the union makes us
The union-Yeah- the union makes us
The union-Yeah- the union makes us strong!
WE SHALL OVERCOME
Tune:Traditional-Black Spiritual
Verse 1: We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday.
CHORUS: O-O-Oh deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday.
Verses:
2. We shall live in peace (3x) someday
3. Truth shall make us free (3x) today
4. Whole wide world around (3x) today
5. We’ll walk hand in hand (3x) today
6. We are not afraid (3x) today
En Espanol:
Verso 1: Unidos venceremos (3x) hoy
CORO: O-O-Oh en mi corazon
Yo creo
Unidos venceremos
Verso 2: Viviremos en paz (3x) hoy
HEY
Song/ chant
5,6,7,8
HE—EY! Donald Trump (or_____)
OOH AAH!
You gotta know-ow
That it’s time to go!
_________________________
Tune: Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel
Words: See rousing videos on YouTube
-Protest in Brighton, UK 1/30/2017
-Rutgers strike “Hey Holloway” 4/12/23
YOU SCREWED US OVER
(Tune: Hey Look Me Over)
You screwed us over
That’s why we say
We’re gonna dump you
Come Election Day
So don’t turn your backs boys (or TRUMP)
Don’t feel secure
We’re gonna get you in the end
Of that you can be sure
And we’re be back by the millions
YOU know it’s true
Hang on to your hats boys
We’re coming after YOU!
HERE IS THE LESSON WE’VE LEARNED THIS YEAR
ON THIS YOU CAN RELY-
WHEN WE’RE SCREWED WE MULTIPLY!
AIN’T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME ‘ROUND
Tune: Traditional – Black Spiritual; Civil Rights Movement
Verse 1:
Ain’t gonna let NOBODY
Turn me/us ’round, turn me/us ’round, turn me/us ’round
Ain’t gonna let NOBODY
Turn us ’round
CHORUS
We’re gonna keep on a-walking,
Keep on a-talking,
Gonna build a better world!
Verses:
2. Ain’t gonna let NO ICE THUGS.
3. … Intimidation…
4. … No Racism…
5. … No Deportations….
6. … No Hatred…
7. … No Violence…
8. …no Homophobia….
9. …Incarceration…
LOOK TO THE PEOPLE
Words and Music: Ruth Pelham – Used with Permission
Find it on youtube
Verses:
We’re gonna look to the people for courage
(also: wisdom, justice, power, laughter, and loving)
In the hard times coming ahead
We’re gonna sing and shout
We’re gonna work it out
In the hard times coming ahead.
CHORUS:
With people’s courage (3x)
We can make it.
Song Chant:
NA NA NA NA
NA NA NA NA
HEY HEY _________(ICE; etc…)
GOODBYE-EH!
(Find it on YouTube-
NaNa Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by STEAM)
