compiled by Ruth Goldbaum

Good Chants for a Lively Picketline (and Some Great Songs too)


Compiled by Ruth Goldbaum
Now available as a pocket-sized handbook with 74 chants and 15 union songs. 36 pp.
Enter number of desired copies in white box and click on gray box
1-24 copies . . . . . . . . $2.50 per copy
25-99 copies . . . . . . . . $2.35 per copy
100-499 copies . . . . . . $2.10 cents per copy
500-999 copies . . . . . . $1.95 cents per copy
1000 or more copies . . $1.80 cents per copy
 
Collected from many dedicated union members

1. Hey, hey, what do we say,
_________________ is here to stay!

Variations:

Hey, hey, what do we say,
We want a contract right away!

Hey, hey, what do you say,
________ _______ all the way!

Hey, hey, don't delay,
Give us a contract with equal pay!

HEY, HEY, WHAT SHOULD WE DO,
ORGANIZE OUR WHOLE DAMN CREW!


2. Hey, hey, what do you know,
_______________________ is moving mighty slow! (ex. the boss, the state, etc.)

3. WE'RE FIRED UP - WON'T TAKE NO MORE! (repeat)

4. WANNA KNOW WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS?
WE ARE STANDING UP FOR JUSTICE!

5. ON STRIKE, SHUT IT DOWN,
____________________ IS A UNION TOWN!

VARIATION:

ORGANIZE, DON'T FOOL AROUND
____________________ IS A UNION TOWN!

UNION TOWN, THROUGH AND THROUGH
YOU FOR ME AND ME FOR YOU.

6. THEIR __________ PER CENT
WON'T PAY THE RENT!

7. BOSS SAYS YES, WE SAY NO!
BOSS SAYS HELL YES, WE SAY HELL NO!
BOSS SAYS CUT BACK,
WE SAY FIGHT BACK!
BOSS SAYS GIVE BACK.
WE SAY FIGHT BACK!
BOSS SAYS TAKE AWAYS
WE SAY NO WAY!!!

8. EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO!
THE WORKERS, UNITED, WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!

9. WHAT DO WE WANT? CONTRACT! (or UNION, PENSION, BENEFITS, etc.…)
WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!

.10. ___________ _____________ IS UNFAIR,
ALL WE WANT IS OUR FAIR SHARE!

11. AFL-CIO
ALL THE SCABS HAVE GOT TO GO!

12. NO CONTRACT, NO WORK!
NO CONTRACT, NO WORK!
NO DAMN CONTRACT, NO DAMN WORK!
NO DAMN CONTRACT, NO DAMN WORK!

13. __________________________, YOU LIAR,
WE'LL SET YOUR ASS ON FIRE!

14. THERE'S ONE THING THAT'S CLEAR TO ME,
THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE UNITY!

15. HEY, HΙY (pause) HO, HΣ
UNION BUSTING'S GOT TO GO!
(or) UNION POWER ON THE GO
(or) POVERTY WAGES HAVE GOT TO GO.
(or) WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?

16. BEEP BEEP
________________'S CHEAP!!

17. _________________, RICH AND RUDE
WE DON'T LIKE YOUR ATTITUDE

18. FYFO, FYFO,
IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO! (FORGET YOUR FINAL OFFER)

19. FEE FI FO FUM
__________, HERE WE COME!

20. I DON'T KNOW BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD,
BOSS'S POCKETS ARE LINED WITH GOLD!
LIES AND TRICKS WILL NOT DIVIDE,
WORKERS STANDING SIDE BY SIDE!

21. 1, 2, 3, 4 WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE OUT HERE FOR!
5, 6, 7, 8 COME ON __________________________, NEGOTIATE!

VARIATIONS:

COME ON __________________ PLAY IT STRAIGHT
or: WHERE'S OUR CONTRACT, WHY SO LATE?

or: 1,2,3,4 WE WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE
5,6,7,8 SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE.
or: NO ONE SHOULD BE WORKING POOR. (etc..)
22. WE'RE GONNA BEAT (pause), BEAT (pause), BACK THE BOSS
WE'E GONNA BEAT BEAT BACK THE BOSS! (yeah!)

VARIATION:

WE'RE GONNA BEAT BACK THE __________ATTACK
WE'RE GONNA BEAT BACK THE__________ATTACK.

23.TRUSTEES CEASE YOUR MYTHIC FABLE,
RETURN FORTHWITH TO THE BARGAINING TABLE!

24. WE'RE BAD, WE KNOW IT - WE'RE HERE TO SHOW IT!
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
AND YOU AIN'T SEEN, NOTHING YET!

25. (CALL) DIGNITY (RESPONSE) UNION YES!
(CALL) DIGNITY (RESPONSE) UNION YES!
(CALL) RESPECT (RESPONSE) UNION YES!
(CALL) ORGANIZE (RESPONSE) UNION YES! ETC.

26. ________________________ IS A WARRIOR (2X)
EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU CAN HEAR THEM SAY
________________________ IS A WARRIOR!

27. Tune: "Frere Jacques"
LISTEN_______________________ (2X)
DO YOU HEAR? (2X)
WE WANT ____________________ (2X)
IS THAT CLEAR? (2X)

28. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN
UNION (5X)…… …… …… …… ……
ORGANIZE (5X)… …… … …… …,etc. (traditional melody)
ON THE PICKET LINE - UNION! (3X) UNION! UNION! (etc.)
GOD IS ON OUR SIDE - UNION! (3X)UNION! UNION! …….

29. (Call and response)
WE ARE THE UNION - WE ARE THE UNION
MIGHTY, MIGHTY UNION - MIGHTY, MIGHTY UNION
EVERYWHERE WE GO - EVERYWHERE WE GO
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW - PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
WHO WE ARE - WHO WE ARE
SO WE TELL THEM - SO WE TELL THEM
(go to beginning)

30. (Army marching tune)
Call: UNION POWER ON THE RISE Response: NOW'S THE TIME TO ORGANIZE
NO MORE BOSSES, TRICKS & LIES Response: "
GIVE OUR CHILDREN BETTER LIVES Response: "
TELL THE GALS AND TELL THE GUYS Response: "
ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE………. Response: "

31. (CALL) NO WORK (RESPONSE) NO PEACE
(CALL) NO JUSTICE (RESPONSE) NO PEACE
(CALL) NO JOBS (RESPONSE) NO PEACE
(CALL)NO PENSIONS (RESPONSE) NO PEACE

32. WHO'S GOT THE POWER?
WE GOT THE POWER.
WHAT KIND OF POWER?
UNION POWER!!!!

33. POWER! POWER! POWER!
POWER BY THE HOUR
UNION'S GOT THE POWER
POWER! POWER! POWER!
POWER BY THE HOUR
WORKING PEOPLE'S POWER
POWER! POWER! POWER!

34. WE'VE GOT UNION POWER,POWER, POWER
IT'S THE GREATEST POWER OF THEM ALL.

35. ESCUCHA, ESCUCHA
ESTAMOS EN LA LUCHA!!!
(translation: Listen, Listen, We're all in the struggle.)

36. WHO'S GOT THE MONEY???????? (repeat)

37. GET UP-LEVANTATE!!
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS.
GET UP-LEVANTATE!!
DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT.

38. SE VE, SE SIENTE
LA UNION ESTA PRESENTE!!
(translation: See us! Feel us! The union is here.)

39. UN DANO PARA UNO ES UN DANO A TODO!!
(translation: An injury to one is an injury to all)

40. AW….TOOT! TOOT!
GET UP OFF OF THAT LOOT !!!!

41. SERVE THE NEEDY
NOT THE GREEDY!!!

42. WE'RE OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID
ARE YOU READY TO FIGHT? DAMN RIGHT!!!

43. MORE MONEY, MORE MONEY, MO
DO THE RIGHT THING, DO THE RIGHT THING, DO IT!!!

44.WE'RE WORKING FAMILIES (HEALTHCARE WORKERS, etc.)
UNDER ATTACK
WHAT DO WE DO?
STAND UP! FIGHT BACK!!!

45. WHAT TIME IS IT?
IT'S UNION TIME!

46. AIN'T NO POWER LIKE THE POWER OF THE _____________________
CAUSE THE POWER OF THE ______________ IS ON FIRE!!!!

47. (army marching tune)
________________IS A UNION TOWN (Repeat each line)
YOU CAN'T KEEP THE WORKERS DOWN.
UNION TOWN THROUGH AND THROUGH
YOU FOR ME AND ME FOR YOU.

______________IS A UNION CITY
THE WAY YOU TREAT US IS A PITY.

UNION CITY IN AND OUT
WE WON'T STOP UNTIL YOU'RE OUT.

48. WE'RE OUT OF THE OFFICE AND ONTO OUR FEET.
WE'RE OFF OF OUR ASSES AND OUT IN THE STREET.

SO PUT ON THE HEAT, OUT IN THE STREET
CZ. UNION POWER CAN NEVER BE BEAT!

49. HEY BOSSES CAN YOU HEAR IT? (repeat)
CAN YOU HEAR THAT UNION SPIRIT? (repeat)
GONNA ROCK YOU FROM BEHIND (repeat)
AND---BLOW---YOUR---MIND!!!

50. CUTS IN HEALTH CARE! - NO MORE!
UNDERSTAFFING! - NO MORE!
CUTTING CORNERS! - NO MORE!
STAND UP FOR PATIENTS! - RIGHT NOW!
BETTER STAFFING! - RIGHT NOW!
BETTER FUNDING! - RIGHT NOW! (etc.)

51. HEY____________, IT'S ABOUT TIME
WHAT YOU PAY US IS A CRIME
HEY____________, HEAR OUR CRY
WE NEED A PENSION, THAT'S NO LIE.

52. WE NEED STAFF ---THEY JUST LAUGH
WE NEED SUPPLIES ---THEY ROLL THEIR EYES
WE NEED MONEY ---THEY THINK IT'S FUNNY
BUT IF WE FIGHT ---THEY'LL DO WHAT'S RIGHT!!!!

53. WHAT'S DISGUSTING?
UNION BUSTING!!!

WHAT'S OUTRAGEOUS?
SWEATSHOP WAGES!!!

54. JUST SAY NO TO _________'S LIES
DEFEND OUR RIGHT TO ORGANIZE!!!

55. WHAT DOES __________HAVE TO HIDE??
SWEATSHOP PRODUCTS MADE INSIDE.

56. SWEATSHOP LABOR? NO WAY!!
GET_____________AND MAKE THEM PAY.

59. UP WITH THE UNION YEAH!! YEAH!!
DOWN WITH THE BOSSES BOOM!! BOOM!!

59. OLE (chanted 8X) (TUNE: Best known from the TOYOTA commercial)
_________'S HOT, HOT, HOT!!!
or
OLE (4x)
PACK YOUR BAGS AND GO AWAY, etc.

60. (THUMP, THUMP CLAP) 4X (TUNE: WE WILL ROCK YOU)
WE ARE, WE ARE UNION!
WE ARE, WE ARE UNION!

61. (Do this in military chant)
I don't know but I've been told
_____________(company) think their ass is gold
Scabby trucks are hauling coal
We're just here to let them know
Hell no
We won't go
When they go to sleep tonight
They will see us in our fight
_______________(company) is not our friend
We are union till the end
Hell no
We won't go

Ruth Goldbaum, from West Hartford, CT started collecting CHANTS FOR A LIVELY PICKET LINE to begin to create a readily available source of chants. As a third generation union member (AFT), an activist, and as a member of the twenty year old singing group, Bread and Roses, she has spent many hours on picket lines. Some were lively and energizing, and some were draining. In these times of renewed activism and organizing, a good chant is a good organizing tool. Feel free to distribute this collection and please send her your new chants (languages other than English and translations are needed too), so that she can add them to the list and pass them on.

HEARD ANY GOOD CHANTS LATELY?
PLEASE PASS THEM ON TO :

info@laborheritage.org

THIS PROJECT IS ENDORSED BY THE GREATER HARTFORD LABOR COUNCIL


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