Union Man

Lyrics

A short life of trouble in a dark and dusty mine Has been my occupation, now I walk the picket line I was down in bloody Harlan when they tried to organize The miners faced starvation, you could see it in their eyes The company hired the gun thugs, many miners died it's said They'd come to kill the Union but they lost their lives instead Which side are you on boys, which side are you on? You're either for the rich man or the Union standing strong I came to New York City in the year of '43 We were fighting Hitler's armies in the war across the sea But they would not hire a miner to do a workman's job At fifteen cents an hour, your pockets they will rob And it's which side are you on boys, which side are you on? You're either for the rich man or the Union standing strong I'll never trust a rich man as long as I draw breath To keep his marble mansion he'll starve your child to death And when my life is over, don't mourn my passing long Organize resistance and keep the Union strong So here's to every miner who dared to take a stand Who lived to feed his family and died a Union man