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Song list, West Kootenay Solidarity Coalition

Hanne Jensen Solidarity Collection, BC Labour Heritage Centre

Music from historic labour and social justice movements were often part of the 1983 Solidarity events as shown in this song sheet from the West Kootenay Solidarity Coalition. The songs helped to build unity and comradeship among protesters.

Transcription

OPERATION SOLIDARITY WEST KOOTENAY COALITION

WE SHALL OVERCOME

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,

We shall overcome some day,

Oh, oh, deep in my heart I do believe

That we shall overcome some day.

We’ll walk hand in hand,

We’ll walk hand in hand some day,

Oh, oh, deep in my heart I do believe

That we shall overcome some day.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid,

We are not afraid today,

Oh, oh, deep in my heart I do believe

That we shall overcome some day.

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,

We shall overcome some day,

Oh, oh, deep in my heart I do believe

That we shall overcome some day.

BREAD AND ROSES

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,

For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!”

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,

For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, march, unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew

WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED

The People are behind us, we shall not be moved.

The Union is behind us, we shall not be moved.

Just like a tree that’s planted by the water,

We shall not be moved.

CHORUS:

We shall not, we shall not be moved;

Just like a tree that’s planted by the water;

We shall not be moved.

We’re fighting for our freedom; we shall not be moved.

Just like a tree that’s planted by the water;

We shall not be moved.

We’re fighting for our children; we shall not be moved

Just like a tree that’s planted by the water;

We shall not be moved.

We’ll change the legislation, we shall not be moved.

Just like a tree that’s planted by the water;

We shall not be moved.

HOLD THE FORT

We meet today in freedom’s cause

And raise our voices high;

We’ll join our hands in union strong

To battle or to die.

CHORUS:

Hold the fort, for we are coming,

Coalition strong;

Side by side we battle onward,

Victory will come.

Look, my people, see the movement

Banners waving high;

Reinforcements now appearing;

Victory is nigh.

(CHORUS)

See our members still increasing,

Hear the bugles blow,

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

When the Union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run,

There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun,

Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one?

CHORUS:

Solidarity forever!

For the Union makes us strong.

They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn,

But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel could turn,

We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn

That the Union makes us strong.

In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold,

Greater than the might of armies magnified a thousand fold,

We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old,

For the Union makes us strong.

Through our sisters and our brothers, we can make our movement strong,

For respect and equal value, we have done without too long

We no longer have to tolerate injustices and wrongs

Yes the Union makes us strong.

IF I HAD A HAMMER

If I had a hammer,

I’d hammer in the morning,

I’d hammer in the evening

All over this land,

I’d hammer out danger,

I’d hammer out a warning,

I’d hammer out love between,

My brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.

If I had a bell to ring,

I’d ring it in the morning,

I’d ring it in the evening

All over this land,

I’d ring out danger,

I’d ring out a warning,

I’d ring out love

Between my brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.

If I had a song,

I’d sing it in the morning,

I’d sing it in the evening

all over this land.

I’d sing out danger,

I’d sing out a warning,

I’d sing out love

Between my brothers and my sisters

all over this land.

Well, I’ve got a hammer

And I’ve got a bell

And I’ve got a song to sing

All over this land

It’s the hammer of justice

It’s the bell of freedom

It’s a song about love

between my brothers and my sisters

All over this land.