Talking Union
Almanac Singers
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Now, if you want higher wages let me tell you what to do You got to talk to the workers in the shop with you. You got to build you a union, got to make it strong, But if you all stick together, boys, it won't be long. You get shorter hours, better working conditions, Vacations with pay. Take your kids to the seashore. It ain't quite this simple, so I better explain Just why you got to ride on the union train. 'Cause if you wait for the boss to raise your pay, We'll all be a-waitin' 'til Judgment Day. We'll all be buried, gone to heaven, St. Peter'll be the straw boss then. Now you know you're underpaid but the boss says you ain't; He speeds up the work 'til you're 'bout to faint. You may be down and out, but you ain't beaten, You can pass out a leaflet and call a meetin'. Talk it over, speak your mind, Decide to do somethin' about it. Course, the boss may persuade some poor damn fool To go to your meetin' and act like a stool. But you can always tell a stool, though, that's a fact, He's got a yaller streak a-runnin' down his back. He doesn't have to stool, he'll always get along On what he takes out of blind men's cups. You got a union now, and you're sittin' pretty, Put some of the boys on the steering committee. The boss won't listen when one guy squawks, But he's got to listen when the union talks. He'd better, be mighty lonely Everybody decide to walk out on him. Suppose they're working you so hard it's just outrageous And they're paying you all starvation wages. You go to the boss and the boss would yell, "Before I raise your pay I'd see you all in hell." Well, he's puffing a big seegar, feeling mighty slick 'Cause he thinks he's got your union licked. Well, he looks out the window and what does he see But a thousand pickets, and they all agree: He's a bastard, unfair, slavedriver, Bet he beats his wife! Now, boys, you've come to the hardest time. The boss will try to bust your picket line. He'll call out the police, the National Guard, They'll tell you it's a crime to have a union card. They'll raid your meetin', they'll hit you on the head, They'll call every one of you a goddam red, Unpatriotic, Japanese spies, sabotaging national defense! But out at Ford, here's what they found, And out at Vultee, here's what they found, And out at Allis-Chalmers, here's what they found, And down at Bethlehem, here's what they found: That if you don't let red-baiting break you up, And if you don't let stoolpigeons break you up, And if you don't let vigilantes break you up, And if you don't let race hatred break you up, You'll win. What I mean, take it easy, but take it!
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Written by: PETER SEEGER, LEE HAYS, MILLARD LAMPELL
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Genre Classification"Talking Union" is a folk song by the Almanac Singers, representing the labor movement and talking about union organization.
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Origin and InspirationThe song was written in 1941 by Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Millard Lampell, who were inspired by the union struggles during that time period.
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Historical Significance"Talking Union" is an important song in the history of the American labor movement. It became an anthem of the union during the 1930s and 1940s.
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Album CompilationThe song was included in the album "Talking Union and Other Union Songs", which was originally released in 1955 by Folkways Records.
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Almanac SingersThe Almanac Singers were a group of folk musicians who were known for their invincible spirit and activism, especially their focus on labor rights and social justice.
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Song’s Message"Talking Union" provides advice on how to start a union, discussing various tactics such as strikes and educating the workers about their rights.
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Legacy of the SongThe impact of the song has lasted over the decades, with it being performed by numerous artists, including Billy Bragg, Natalie Merchant, and Bruce Springsteen.
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Impact on Pete Seeger’s CareerDespite facing political blacklisting during the McCarthy era due to the openly pro-union, proletarian message of songs like "Talking Union," Pete Seeger went on to have a legendary folk music career.
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MusicianshipThe song showcases the raw and minimalist approach common in traditional folk music, with the primary instrument being the acoustic guitar.
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Impact on the Music Industry"Talking Union" was a potent example of music being used as a tool for social change, influencing generations of folk, rock, and pop musicians.
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"Talking Union Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5139810/Almanac+Singers/Talking+Union>.
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