Marching to the Music: Songs From the American Labor Movement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-09-06-voa2.cfm

Over the years, unions have energized supporters with songs like "We Shall Not Be Moved," "Bread and Roses" and "De Colores." Transcript of radio broadcast:
06 September 2009


VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

Union members and their supporters march during a Labor Day parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2007
Union members and their supporters march during a Labor Day parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2007
And I'm Barbara Klein. Most of the world observes Labor Day on May first. But the United States has its workers holiday on the first Monday in September. Today on our program, we have a few songs from the history of the American labor movement.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Labor songs are traditionally stories of struggle and pride, of timeless demands for respect and the hope for a better life.

Sometimes they represent old songs with new words. One example is "We Shall Not Be Moved." It uses the music and many of the same words of an old religious song.

Here is folksinger Pete Seeger with "We Shall Not Be Moved."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Many classic American labor songs came from workers in the coal mines of the South. Mine owners bitterly opposed unions. In some cases, there was open war between labor activists and coal mine operators.

VOICE ONE:

Once, in Harlan County, Kentucky, company police searched for union leaders. They went to one man's home but could not find him there. So they waited outside for several days.

Pete Seeger at his 90th birthday celebration
Pete Seeger
The coal miner's wife, Florence Reece, remained inside with her children. She wrote this song, "Which Side Are You On?"

Again, here is Pete Seeger.

FULL story, music download, and photos at link.