Union Man

A short life of trouble in a dark and dusty mine
Has been my occupation, now I walk the picket line
I was down in bloody Harlan when they tried to organize
The miners faced starvation, you could see it in their eyes
The company hired the gun thugs, many miners died it’s said
They’d come to kill the Union but they lost their lives instead
Which side are you on boys, which side are you on?
You’re either for the rich man or the Union standing strong
I came to New York City in the year of ‘43
We were fighting Hitler’s armies in the war across the sea
But they would not hire a miner to do a workman’s job
At fifteen cents an hour, your pockets they will rob
And it’s which side are you on boys, which side are you on?
You’re either for the rich man or the Union standing strong
I’ll never trust a rich man as long as I draw breath
To keep his marble mansion he’ll starve your child to death
And when my life is over, don’t mourn my passing long
Organize resistance and keep the Union strong
So here’s to every miner who dared to take a stand
Who lived to feed his family and died a Union man