Bernie Sander's new book, Bernie Sander's Guide to Political Revolution arrived this afternoon. It is aimed at the young, lots of illustrations, suggested links, etc. Easy to page through, I quickly noticed a link to the following website.
The Nations top ten labor day songs.
Of the ten songs I was very familiar with only one, Tennessee Ernie Ford's 16 Tons. This 1956 song was about the time I was going from junior to senior high school. I was really interested in popular songs. Used to watch the countdown on Saturday evening TV. The lyrics were sold in stores; I was always looking for the newest issues; these had replaced comic books in my life.
I did discover in the list a new (for me) beautiful song, Judy Collins Bread and Roses. I think it should be the recessional for labor day weekend Masses.
Lyrics: Judy Collins Bread and Roses
Here are some more links to Labor Day music. Maybe you will discover some songs you had forgotten or come across an interesting new one.
100 labor day and American workers songs
Billboard Labor day playlist work songs
Yahoo music-news the 25 best work songs for labor day
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When Bernie Sanders first started campaigning, my millenials at work already knew all about him. Proud to say, I was the one who had previously informed them of him. Have to read his book.
ReplyDelete'Solidarity Forever' is he closest thing to "We Shall Overcome" the labor movement ever had. I was a little surprised "Joe Hill" didn't make Number Two, but the bonus gave it two spots. Joan Baez also did it very well. I didn't look at the longer lists, but Merle Travis's "Dark as a Dungeon" would be on my top 10 list, too. And maybe "John Henry," but that's tilting things a bit toward the UMW, whose members voted reactionary in the last election.
ReplyDeleteOnly us long-in-the-tooth folk have even heard of Joe Hill, or have the slightest idea who he was. The only one I know who might be even more obscure is Ammon Hennacy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_Hennacy) .... and how many lurking here have heard of him?
DeleteOh, sure, Hennacy was in and out of the Catholic Worker for ages.
DeleteJoe Hill was subject of a book looking back at his life and death by William M. Adler in 2011. The title was The Man Who Never Died. Joe was innocent, Adler says. Joe McLellan, who passed away while music critic for the Washington Post, had a theory that they sing "Joe Hill" too fast on the East Coast and too slowly on the West Coast, so to hear it performed right you have to go to the Midwest. The IWW still exists in Chicago.
Never heard of Joe Hill but remember Ammon Hennacy of the Catholic Worker.
DeleteMy grandmother's husband was a bandy-rooster Irishman from Chicago who moved to SW Wisconsin, married her, and became a miner. He was one of those package deal men: If you were one of these you had to be all of these: Irish, Catholic, Democrat, labor union member. If given the chance, I am sure that Mickey (O'Brien) would have been a torch flinging Wobblie of the nth degree.
DeleteI'll go with "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash, but where is Commander Cody's "Truck Driving' Man" or Billy Connolly's version of the "Internationale"? Here it is. With handy lyrics you can sing along with. I do every May Day and Labor Day. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yAw0Ri4FSdM
ReplyDeleteIn our old Episcopal church, we brought implements used in our work to the altar to be blessed. I really liked that.
Also, my lit class is reading "Skywalkers," about the Mohawks who riveted many of New York City's megastructures, the Hell Gate Bridge among the first of their NYC projects. The author lauds the dignity and pride of workmanship. And the collapse of the Phoenix Company's bridge in Quebec is a not-so-subtle message that engineers and entrepreneurs should pay attention to the expertise of the guys on the line.
This one is pretty dark, but I always liked the tune and the beat: Aint No More Cane on the Brazos
ReplyDeleteHope Joe Arpaio hasn't heard this one, he'd want to bring chain gangs back. This rendition is the Chad Mitchell Trio, but other groups also had a version. A lot of these songs bring back memories. It's funny how my staunchly Republican mom had every 33 rpm LP album the Chad Mitchell Trio, The Brothers Four, and the Kingston Trio ever did. And played them until they wore out.
We went to see "The Glass Castle" this afternoon. I dragged my husband to it, I owe him one. Actually it was well done. If you liked the book you would probably like it. Not sure what that has to do with Labor Day, since Jeannette Wall's parents didn't seem to do much that they got paid for (drinking and painting bad pictures aren't very remunerative).
ReplyDeleteYug. I read her book. It was awful. A thing like that needs to be written after all the parties are dead and gone, and the memoirist has a chance to let the experience percolate.
DeleteThe family's life was chaotic beyond belief, it was kind of like watching a train wreck. But yet there was love, it just wasn't able to translate into even minimally effective parenting. One of the things that got me was that the mom was part owner of about a million bucks worth of land during the time when the family was without heat or running water and were half starving to death.
DeleteCome to think of it, the other story that The Glass Castle reminds me of is Angela's Ashes. I agree with Jean that it would be better to write this type of memoir after the parties are dead and gone. The parents, anyway. I guess if the others were dead it wouldn't get written.
DeleteI would add
ReplyDeleteSteve's Hammer (For Pete) by Steve Earle, also maybe his "The Revolution Starts Now". "Salt of the Earth" by the Stones. I liked the Bread and Roses version in the movie Pride and, yes, like Jean said, "The Internationale". And I feel like there should be a Pogues song in there somewhere, but can't think of one. (Dirty Old Town?)