Skip to main content

Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

Various Artists
Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

Songs of the American labor movement over the 20th century called for just wages, dignity, and a fair shake. They voiced grievances, affirmed the value of the worker to society, and expressed hope for life in a more just world. Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways is a collage of these voices—champions of the movement, singing songs with a passion and love for their fellow workers that rings just as true today as it did then. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joe Glazer, the Almanac Singers, and more chronicle the history of the American labor movement in stirring song.

LYRICS

Lyric transcriptions as permissible by the publisher available here.

RELATED VIDEOS
Political Songs

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Joe Hill Paul Robeson 03:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Bread and Roses Bobbie McGee 02:30
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Casey Jones (The Union Scab) Pete Seeger and the Almanac Singers 01:55
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
We Shall Not Be Moved / Roll the Union On Joe Glazer 02:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Roll the Union On John Handcox 01:07
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Cotton Mill Colic Mike Seeger 02:38
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
The Mill Was Made of Marble Joe Glazer 03:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Aragon Mill Peggy Seeger 03:09
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
Talking Union Almanac Singers 03:02
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
1913 Massacre Woody Guthrie 03:36
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
111
The Preacher and the Slave Utah Phillips 02:19
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
112
Which Side Are You On? / Which Side Are You On? Florence Reece; Almanac Singers 02:35
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
113
Hold the Fort Joe Uehlein 03:58
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
114
Union Maid New Harmony Sisterhood Band 03:06
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
115
Too Old to Work Joe Glazer 02:51
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
116
Black Lung Hazel Dickens 03:22
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
117
Been Rolling So Long (Truck Driving Man) Larry Penn 04:00
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
118
VDT Tom Juravich 01:56
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
119
Automation Joe Glazer 02:34
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
120
I’m Union and I’m Proud Eddie Starr 02:57
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
121
I’m a Union Card Kenny Winfree 02:27
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
122
Carpal Tunnel John O'Connor 02:37
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
123
We Just Come to Work Here, We Don’t Come to Die Anne Feeney 02:49
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
124
One Day More Elaine Purkey 03:38
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
125
We Do the Work Jon Fromer 02:41
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
126
De Colores Baldemar Velasquez and Aguila Negra 02:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
127
Solidarity Forever Joe Glazer 02:28