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War on the Workers a Tribute to Anne Feeney

by Anne Feeney

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1.
Listen up,. we've got a war zone here today Right in our heartland, and across the USA These multinational bastards don't use tanks and guns it's true But they've declared a war on us, fight back! It's up to you There's a war on the workers There's a war on the workers There's a war on the workers And it's time we started calling the shots Going to work could be the death of you and me But we're not unarmed--Our weapon's solidarity Jim Beals* and Karen Silkwood The list goes on and on With every year that passes 60,000 more are gone When they boost your co-pay, (it's a war on the workers!) Don't you know what to say - (it's a war on the workers!) When they talk privatization (it's a war on the workers!) And co-operation (it's a war on the workers!) When they call you “a team” (it's a war on the workers!) You’d better learn how to scream (it's a war on the workers!) They can lock us out, they can lock us up -- We cannot give in No more lies, no compromise! We’ll battle til we win! They call it "flexibility" (it's a war on the workers!) But every working stiff can see (it's a war on the workers!) When they poison our water (it's a war on the workers!) Don’t go like lambs to the slaughter (it's a war on the workers!) When they foul up the air (it's a war on the workers!) You’ve gotta show that you care (it's a war on the workers!) When they talk WTO (it's a war on the workers!) We should be screaming HELL NO! (it's a war on the workers!) Oh, it's a war on the workers-- It's a war on public education, it's a war on child labor protections, it's a war on the 8 hour day, it's a war on occupational health & safety, a war on social security -- Now thanks to WTO, GATT, NAFTA, MAI , the IMF and the World Bank it's a world wide war -- *Jim Beals was a Staley worker who died just before the lockout while cleaning a tank of toxic propylene oxide, known by the workers as PO
2.
WELL, HERE’S A SONG WE ALL CAN SING LET’S START THIS STORY WITH RODNEY KING KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON I WATCHED THEM BEAT HIM ON T.V. THEN SIMI VALLEY SET THEM FREE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON HOLD ON -- HOLD ON -- KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON THEN JOHNNY GAMMAGE DIES IN VAIN AS KILLER COPS HIT THE STREETS AGAIN KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON OUR HOPE CRUSHED AGAIN IN ALBANY AS DIALLO’S KILLERS WALK OUT FREE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON HOLD ON – HOLD ON – KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON THE VERDICTS FILLED MY HEART WITH PAIN BUT I WILL SING THE SAME REFRAIN KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON A CRY FOR JUSTICE FILLS THE AIR BUT THIS IS NO TIME FOR DESPAIR KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON HOLD ON -- HOLD ON -- KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON WE'VE GOT TO REBUILD AMERICA, KEEP HOPE ALIVE WE'VE GOT TO REBUILD AMERICA, KEEP HOPE ALIVE WE'VE GOT TO REBUILD AMERICA, EYES ON THE PRIZE THAT DREAM WE ARE BUILDING NEVER DIES YOU CAN'T MURDER JUSTICE, NO, NO, NO YOU DON'T BURY FREEDOM, NO YOU DON'T WE CAN SEE A FUTURE WHERE OUR CHILDREN SHARE THE EARTH AND YOU WON'T TAKE THAT FROM US, NO YOU WON'T END RACIAL PROFILING -- VIOLENCE MUST CEASE WHEN WILL THEY LEARN IT? NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE! KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON WE'VE GOTTA EDUCATE CHILDREN, NOT PUT THEM IN JAIL BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY WE MUST PREVAIL KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON OUR CITIES ARE CRUMBLIN'; OUR SCHOOLS A DISGRACE WE’RE BUILDING JAILS & PUTTING WEAPONS IN SPACE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON DON'T SIT AT HOME THINKIN' "WHAT COULD I DO?" REMEMBER THAT UNITY STARTS WITH YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON IS DEMOCRACY DEAD? ONLY TIME’S GONNA TELL GET YOUR FEET IN THE STREET NOW, START RAISIN’ SOME HELL! KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON YES, SISTERS AND BROTHERS, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE CAUSE WE'RE BUILDING A DREAM, AND THE DREAM NEVER DIES KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE, HOLD ON
3.
Where did all these missiles come from? Don't say you built them in my name. We built them up, let's take them down now Today we stop this deadly game TAKE THEM DOWN! WE DEMAND IT! IN THE NAME OF THE PLANET TAKE THEM DOWN IN THE NAME OF MOTHER EARTH! I will not die for a border - Just an imaginary line I will not sacrifice my children - This blue sky is yours and mine Don't tell us that we have no choice - all the people all world round Altogether in one voice - cry save the planet! take them down! Who are these men who claim to lead us? The Kremlin the White House - all the same They will incinerate our planet We've got to stop them in her name! TAKE THEM DOWN! WE DEMAND IT IN THE NAME OF THE PLANET TAKE THEM DOWN IN THE NAME OF MOTHER EARTH! TAKE THEM DOWN! WE DEMAND IT! IN THE NAME OF THE PLANET TAKE THEM DOWN IN THE NAME OF MOTHER EARTH! TAKE DOWN THE MISSILES, TAKE DOWN THE BORDERS TAKE DOWN THE LEADERS! TAKE THEM DOWN, IN THE NAME OF MOTHER EARTH. JUST TAKE THEM DOWN IN THE NAME OF MOTHER EARTH!!
4.
You’ve heard “Sixteen Tons” and “The Coal Tattoo” In the coalfield danger is nothing new Here’s the question I’m putting to you ‘How much for the life of a miner?’ It should come as no surprise That every time a miner dies You’ll hear them spout the same old lies How much for the life of a miner? Somewhere far away from here accountants will project Actuaries speculate on causes and effect No pesky regulations from the thieves that they elect And auditor confirm the yield from their benign neglect Each state has a price for a leg that’s lost Lose an arm or an ear – there’s a preset cost When the air goes bad and there’s no exhaust How much for the life of a miner? A slap on the wrist or even a fine Reversed on appeal on down the line “An act of God,” the courts opine. How much for the life of a miner? Politicians posture at the mine face solemnly Live reporters swarm like flies around the tragedy Preachers will proclaim the Lord behaves mysteriously And PR spokesmen orchestrate deniability And then their widows, sons and daughters come to you and me And ask “How much for the life of a miner? How much for the life of a miner?”
5.
Danny was born 10 weeks too soon Premature baby in the ICU What we did to Danny was a low-down crime Slashed the safety net for the bottom line Something’s gone wrong, won’t you tell me why Rich folk live, poor folk die? When I started this job, check-ups were free Now I can't afford what's gone wrong with me My healthcare benefits gone away With the lie that the company calls “co-pay” Something’s gone wrong, won’t you tell me why Rich get richer and poor folk die? Living is a thing that money can buy Rich folks live and poor folk die Private insurance makes no sense Get a brand new liver at a huge expense But dentures, glasses, hearing aids Are "luxury items" that won’t get paid Something’s gone wrong, won’t you tell me why Rich get richer and poor folk die? Living is a thing that money can buy Rich folks live – poor folk die The Affordable Care Act is just a start but it's time to move on to the next part Roll those insurance companies into one Make single payer for everyone Buying for all instead of buying for some Plowshares made from melted guns Affordable health shouldn't be this hard Got the third world right here in our backyard Listen up Mr. Jones and Mr. Dow We want National Health Care Now! We want National Health Care Now! We want National Health Care Now! Single Payer's the only way how! We want National Health Care Now!
6.
Was it Cesar Chavez? Maybe it was Dorothy Day Some will say Dr. King or Gandhi set them on their way No matter who your mentors are it's pretty plain to see That, if you've been to jail for justice, you're in good company Have you been to jail for justice? I want to shake your hand Sitting in and lyin' down are ways to take a stand Have you sung a song for freedom? or marched that picket line? Have you been to jail for justice? Then you're a friend of mine You law abiding citizens, come listen to this song Laws were made by people, and people can be wrong Once unions were against the law, but slavery was fine Women were denied the vote and children worked the mine The more you study history the less you can deny it A rotten law stays on the books til folks like us defy it The law's supposed to serve us, and so are the police And when the system fails, it's up to us to speak our peace It takes eternal vigilance for justice to prevail So get courage from your convictions - Let them haul you off to jail! Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/anne-feeney/have-you-been-to-jail-for-justice-lyrics/#jHHl1rqJIRuAbzEB.99
7.
I married a hero - now I'm living alone His life was held forfeit for defying the throne The cause, it is noble - he died for what's right But it can' ease the pain in the home that's so lonely at night I married a hero - now I'm living alone They call him an outlaw - his location's unkown The last time I saw him took the few pounds I had And left me this baby, who'll not know her dad I married a hero, now I'm living alone My love's bound to wither behind barbed wire and stone They say he gets my letters, but I've not much to write And our bed seems so large now - so empty at night And I curse the injustice that keeps us apart How could it have been wrong to surrender my heart? Will our children be heroes or widows in time? I'd gladly take his place, but would he take mine? I married a hero, now I'm living alone I worked at the two jobs 'til our babies were grown Now I grieve that the same fate awaits them as well My love rests in peace now, and I live in hell And I curse the injustice that keeps us apart How could it have been wrong to surrender my heart? Will our children be heroes or widows in time? I'd gladly take his place, but who would take mine?
8.
I was a welder, pulling down forty thou For all I know that job's in Pakistan now I'm out here workin for the minimum wage and wondering Whatever happened to the eight hour day? We've got no time for the house - no time for the kids An eighty hour week will put your life on the skids There's only one thing that can take it away Whatever happened to the eight hour day? The company keeps telling us we want too much All those cats on top sure have the Midas touch The economy's booming - that's what they say Because I work twice as hard to bring home half of the pay! They kids need attention. The house is a mess. Our marriage is buckling from all of this stress I'm fed up to here, I've just got one thing to say: Whatever happened to the eight hour day? Whatever happened to the eight hour day? Who feeds a family on one person's pay? I'm fed up to here, I've just got one thing to say: Whatever happened to the eight hour day? Remember when one job would pay all the bills? Remember good jobs that demanded some skills? If globalization is as great as they say, tell me: Whatever happened to the eight hour day? Whatever happened to the eight hour day? And pensions, and health care, and overtime pay? I can't take much more, I've just got one thing to say: Whatever happened to the eight hour day?
9.
He's been running down the field now for 17 years, Monday morning finds him face to face with his fears His knees are shot, and no more surgery recommended And though his body is broken at 25 Playing ball's the only way he ever learned to survive He'll be the last one to know his glory days have ended And he's a lucky one, he had that season in the NFL Didn't some writer say "Few ever played the game so well"? And he can read at the sixth grad level Oh that never seemed to matter beforhe Now every Monday morning, he's wondering how he's gonna get by After the game while his teammates revel You'll find him packed up in ice and oh-so-sore They boy is too old to work - and too young to die Still when Sunday rolls around you'll find him headed for that Coliseum And as that crowd roars out, he thinks that they all want to be him While generations of has-beens and would-bes cheer in Their La-Z-Boy recliners drinking Coors Lite beer They say he's crazy to keep going You know they might be right The racketeers make money off him, win or lose The advertisers use him up to sell their booze The agents and the owners and the lawyers are happy tonight And though it breaks his heart to have to admit it He knows the game's just not much fun anymore Still he'll numb the pain, suck in his breath and give it a try If he could that boy would surely quit it But the odds are against him - He knows the score He's too old to work, and too young to die.
10.
Mom and Dad, I'm almost ten and it's time we had this talk I've done my best to please you since before I learned to walk I swallowed all your oatmeal and your work for peace is fine But when you pick on Super Mario I've got to draw the line I know you're not like other folks, but for once could we pretend, OH Can't I be like other kids? Why can't I have Nintendo? Every other kid I know can spend his idle hours Helping Super Mario climb pillars, hills and towers And how come when we go for walks It's on some picket line? I know you're not like other folks, but for once could we pretend, OH Can't I be like other kids? Why can't I have Nintendo? Sometimes I wonder what would happen in a war It's not that I don't like the things you're working for So don't get angry if I ask you just once more PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???? I don't mind recycling and camping out is fine If you'd only boycott cauliflower, I'd be first in line GI JOE and LASER TAG were out I always knew But when I go down to Billy's place, what do you think we do?? We turn on his TV set and for hours upon end-o I act just like the other kids and I freak out on Nintendo! So can't I be like other kids, Oh Can't I be like other kids? Oh can't I have Nintendo? (Not on your life!!)
11.
It's time to end welfare as we know it And get those greedy chiselers off the dole It's time to end welfare as we know it Teach them a little self-control. For far too long we've allowed these corporate hogs To belly up to the public trough, No more welfare as we know it No more hand-outs, cut them off (last ch only) - (It's for their own good) No more hand-outs, cut them off (And we mean business) No more hand-outs, cut them off Now we should all be irate at this huge welfare state right here in this mightiest of nations AFDC is disgraceful to me, I'm talking aid for dependent corporations Free enterprise, Hah! The cruelest of lies, it cost us two hundred billion just last year If they paid their fair share we'd have billions to spare, it's time to tell them the bucks stop here CHORUS That Taco Bell chihuahua begs for bucks for Frito-Lay And Poppin' Fresh from Pillsbury needs more dough every day That thief Ronald Mcdonald and his side-kick Mayor McCheesy Hamburglarize our treasury in ways that make me queasy That nasty little mermaid took tax dollars overseas To hire thugs to bring poor Haitian workers to their knees CHORUS They've been picking every pocket here from sea to shining sea We must intervene to break this cycle of dependency ADM and Cargill, Standard Oil, Exxon and Boeing Goldman Sachs and Lockheed and that welfare line keeps Growing, growing, growing Now Congress says we can't afford to subsidize the needy But before we slash the safety net let's tell the truly greedy: (Last chorus)
12.
Shell Game 03:00
Was it a shell game - from the master of the cloak and dagger? Was it a shell game - from the master of the cloak and dagger? When you saw "naked aggression" did you forget about recession? When you saw him "kick some ass" did you forget the underclass? Who could spare a moment for the homeless or the poor? Who cares about the deficit, we won a glorious war! Or was it a shell game, from the master of the cloak and dagger? When you spoke of education, did you lose your concentration? If you thought of unemployment, did it spoil the games enjoyment? As the burning oil wells lit the sky we hailed the new world order Don't think of all the Kurdish children starved along the border Caught in the shell game, from the master of the cloak and dagger Must we all avert our eyes and walk in lockstep with this man? What about the hundred thousand that lie buried in the sand? Sing patriotic songs now - Yellow ribbons sea to sea How could Iraq make reparations? Will there be future confrontations? Have we brought peace to all these nations? Or just restored some monarchy?
13.
Gene Debs said "To hell with war! To hell with all who crave it! When masters rule the world no more We'll need no wars to save it." While the ones who own the tools Hoard the wealth and make the rules The whole planet suffers For the powerful few Gene Debs had a lot to say Years ago/ True today With two million locked away What can we do? There’s a better world a-waiting – Work to win it Put an end to poverty, to hunger, despair While there is a lower class I am in it There’s enough for everyone to have a fair share While there is a lower class I am in it Where there is injustice it is done to me While there is a criminal element I am of it While there is a soul in prison I am not free Not behind the prison wall but high above it Truth and honor call upon us – rise and resist! While there is a criminal element I am of it Crime will be unknown when peace and justice exist While there is a lower class I am in it Where there is injustice it is done to me While there is a criminal element I am of it While there is a soul in prison I am not free Can you take time to imagine The day when all receive respect Where want and hunger are just memories And no one suffers from neglect Where each can get an education And work has meaning for us all Instead of brutal retribution An outstretched hand to those who fall? When we at last protect the planet Clean up the water and the air When work is driven not by profit But to make a world we’ll all be proud to share - Speak truth to power and they call it revolution Open your hearts and it’s so easy to see Punishing the poor is just a rich man’s solution While there is a soul in prison I am not free While there is a lower class I am in it Where there is injustice it is done to me While there is a criminal element I am of it While there is a soul in prison I am not free
14.
If you should have to go, I'd like to think that I'd accept it gracefully The perfection of these moments could sustain me through eternity I rejoice to know you've cherished me It's opened every door There are those who say true love Should be jealous and demanding If they could only know the joy Of this perfect understanding If this were all we had It would be enough I've been transformed by The power of love Forever transformed by the power of love
15.
In the year 2002, with 20 minutes warning, the Liberals introduced bill 29 Only 3 days later this hateful bill was passed It offered BC workers bitter wine The layoffs and the closings took their toll on patient care VWith our collective bargaining rights denied by act of law Our union's very future was in doubt -but We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won A five year legal battle with the outcome most uncertain With layoffs mounting what else could we do? We educated, agitated with our friends and allies We stood together and we saw it through The Supreme Court was the last stop in this battle for survival Decided by 3 women and 4 men It was on the 8th of June we got their 6-1 decision And things will never be the same again We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won What good is a union if it has no right to bargain? We clearly had no option but to fight The courts have finally recognized what we knew all along Collective hargaining's a basic human right It's time for celebration now but let us not forget There are many battles yet that lie before us And though we all overjoyed that Gordon Campell's unemployed By now they know that they cannot ignore us! Because We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won And we'll fight back, we'll fight back, we'll fight back 'til we win!
16.
Last night as I lay tossing and a-turning in my bed I dreamed that I was in the presence of the Lord With a dozen Sago miners who had gone to their reward And God looked down on those miners and He said: “Who has sent My faithful servants here unbidden to My Throne? He will answer on the Judgment Day Who has left their grieving families heartbroken and alone? He will answer on the Judgment Day Oh he will answer (he will answer) on that Judgment Day He will answer on that Judgment Day Oh he will answer (he will answer) on that Judgment Day He will answer on that Judgment Day “I have fashioned those who labor in My image,” God did say, “And I did not call these miners home to Me Many years I had allotted them with friends and family Now the heavens weep to hear their orphans pray.” You cannot serve God and mammon – if it’s mammon that you choose You will answer on that Judgment Day Now, what good is all your wealth if your eternal soul you lose? You will answer on that Judgment Day You will answer (you will answer) on that Judgment Day You will answer on that Judgment Day You will answer (you will answer) on that Judgment Day You will answer on that Judgment Day It is easier to get a camel through a needle’s eye Than a rich man into heaven, it’s been told Every time a human life’s cut short by avarice for gold There will be a day of judgment bye and bye If you’ve garnered earthly riches and you come to heaven’s door You will answer on that Judgment Day To love God you must renounce your wealth and share it with the poor, or You will answer on that Judgment Day You will answer (you will answer) on that Judgment Day You will answer on that Judgment Day You will answer (you will answer) on that Judgment Day You will answer on that Judgment Day

about

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM ANNE FEENEY

CDs in jewel cases are available for purchase at CDBaby.com
cdbaby.com/warontheworkers - Physical CDS are no longer available on Bandcamp. CDBaby has all my other recordings as well.

Downloads are still available on this site. I just couldn't keep up with the mail order business - Shipping clerk is apparently not among my talents. Thanks for your understanding.
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This tribute album was put together to honor Anne Feeney's lifelong powerful work for peace, justice, worker rights and equality. All songs on this album are written and under copyright by Anne Feeney and performed by those who wanted celebrate Anne's lifetime of activism and cultural work, including Peter Yarrow, Holly Near, Dan Bern, Evan Greer, Anti-Flag and many more.


"Anne is a role model for us. She has lived her songs." -- Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary)

credits

released December 28, 2016

Songs performed by:
Adam East and Kris Deelane
Eric Schwartz
Colleen Kattau
Emma’s Revolution
Brian Cutean
Peter Yarrow
Holly Near
Peter Wilde and Nancy Silvers
Dan Bern and Chris Chandler
Trout Fishing in America
The Hot Nut Riveters
John Elliott
Amy Sue Berlin
Connie and Anna Cohen
Rebel Voices
Evan Greer and Anti-Flag

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Anne Feeney Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Anne Feeney is a front-line singer and agitator well-versed in the traditions of Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs and Tom Lehrer.

She's taken her musical message all over the US and Canada as well as Sweden and Denmark.

Based in Pittsburgh, PA, For almost 50 years, Anne has gone to wherever the fires of resistance burn brightly, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.
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