Songs of the Workers
A Socialist Party Publication
| Date: | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Organisation: | Socialist Party of Ireland [1970] |
| Collection: | Music in the Irish Left Archive |
| View: | View Document |
| Discuss: | Comments on this document |
| Subjects: | James Connolly James Larkin |
Please note: The Irish Left Archive is provided as a non-commercial historical resource, open to all, and has reproduced this document as an accessible digital reference. Copyright remains with its original authors. If used on other sites, we would appreciate a link back and reference to The Irish Left Archive, in addition to the original creators. For re-publication, commercial, or other uses, please contact the original owners. If documents provided to The Irish Left Archive have been created for or added to other online archives, please inform us so sources can be credited.
Commentary From The Cedar Lounge Revolution
12th August 2013
This pamphlet was published the SPI in 1975. As noted in the Introduction:
The songs reproduced in this book show various aspects of the continuing struggle between the working class and the capitalists, whether employers or landlords. The SP believes that the international nature of the workers’ struggle needs particular emphasis in Ireland today, where so many organisations exist, who would again lead us into the blind alley of nationalism.
And it continues:
The fight for socialism, for human rights and decent standards is international. As James Connolly said - “the workers of all countries are my fellow patriots, the capitalist of my own country is my natural enemy”.
And concludes:
Music and songs have an important part to play in the battle for socialism. They are invaluable in building confidence and strengthening class solidarity as well as in combating the attitudes of the exploiters.
Many of the songs are accompanied by brief explanations as to their historical and political provenance and the selection is wide.
Appendix: Songs Included
- Be Moderate
- Dump the Bosses Off Your Bback
- I am a Union Woman
- The Internationale
- James Connolly
- Jarama Valley
- Joe Hill
- The Klan Song
- Larkin
- Peace and Liberty
- Pity the Downtrodden Landlord
- The Red Flag
- Solidarity Forever
- Song of the Future
- Song of the Hunger Marchers
- Song of the Low
- Song to Labour
- Sit down
- Strike for Better Wages
- The Blackleg
- The Watchword of Labour
- Willie Browne
- We Shall Not Be Moved
More from Socialist Party of Ireland [1970]
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By: Jim Lane Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:53:48
How true of James Connolly when he wrote all those years ago –
” No revolutionary movement is complete without its poetical expression. If such a movement has caught hold of the imagination of the masses, they will seek a vent in song for the aspirations, the fears and hopes, the loves and hatreds engendered by the struggle. Until the movement is marked by the joyous, defiant, singing of revolutionary songs, it lacks one of the distinctive marks of a popular revolutionary movement ; it is a dogma of a few, and not the faith of the multitude.”
James Connolly Introducing, “Songs of Freedom” N.Y. 1907
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