Documenting Labor Inside and Out
Labor Culture
Songs and the Labor Movement
As noted on the cover of the song book distributed by the Education Department of the
United Automobile Workers in the early 1970s, "Labor is a singing movement. Much of its history is told in
songs. Its spirit can be heard and felt when one sings these songs. Union songs also serve
to remind people today of their heritage from the past, and of the continuing need to work for
a better life for all [people]."
Union songs cover many subjects and themes, from the plight of a single worker such as Joe Hill, to songs that sing the praises of unionism in general and the strength of numbers, such as Solidarity Forever. Many of the songs use familiar tunes (Solidarity Forever, for example, is sung to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic), making singing the songs easy as long as the lyrics are available. Some labor organizations prepare song books for their members for this purpose. The lyrics to many union songs are also available online. Click here to exit the exhibit and go to the Union Songs site. American Memory, from the Library of Congress, also offers sound recordings and digital reproductions of sheet music online. |
