Music—Solidarity Forever

The song Solidarity Forever, which continues to be the anthem of the labor movement, was written by Ralph Chaplin in response to the events in W. Virginia where Mother Jones was organizing in the period, 1912-1915. There was a strike in the Kenawha valley, and Chaplin wrote this song to inspire workers for that strike, but it’s appeal lasted long beyond the particulars, to become the anthem of the labor movement. It is sung to the tune of “John Brown’s Body” from the Civil War period, which also inspired the “Battle hymn of the Republic”

When the union's inspiration through 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,
But the union makes us strong.

CHORUS:
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
For the union makes us strong.

Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite,
Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might?
Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight?
For the union makes us strong.

It is we who plowed the praries; built the cities where they trade;
Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid;
Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made;
But the union makes us strong.

All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone.
We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone.
It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own.
While the union makes us strong.

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.

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.

This song is easily available from a number of internet sources.

 Have students examine the words, and ask the following questions

Who is “they” in the song”. Who is “we”. What arguments is the song making about workers’ power? What role will organizing unions play in the future world, according to the song? Why does Chaplin refer to capitalists as “idle drones” and “parasites”?

Music—Solidarity Forever

The song Solidarity Forever, which continues to be the anthem of the labor movement, was written by Ralph Chaplin in response to the events in W. Virginia where Mother Jones was organizing in the period, 1912-1915. There was a strike in the Kenawha valley, and Chaplin wrote this song to inspire workers for that strike, but it’s appeal lasted long beyond the particulars, to become the anthem of the labor movement. It is sung to the tune of “John Brown’s Body” from the Civil War period, which also inspired the “Battle hymn of the Republic”

When the union's inspiration through 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,
But the union makes us strong.

CHORUS:
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
For the union makes us strong.

Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite,
Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might?
Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight?
For the union makes us strong.

It is we who plowed the praries; built the cities where they trade;
Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid;
Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made;
But the union makes us strong.

All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone.
We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone.
It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own.
While the union makes us strong.

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.

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.

This song is easily available from a number of internet sources.

 Have students examine the words, and ask the following questions

Who is “they” in the song”. Who is “we”. What arguments is the song making about workers’ power? What role will organizing unions play in the future world, according to the song? Why does Chaplin refer to capitalists as “idle drones” and “parasites”?