Leonard Cohen - Solidarity Forever (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 can turn
We will break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn that
The union makes us strong
Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong

In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold
Greater than the might of atoms multiplied a thousand-fold
We will give birth a new world from the ashes of the old for
But the union makes us strong
Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong

It is we who plowed the prairies, build the cities where they trade
Dug the mines and build the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid
Now we stand outcast and starving 'mid these wonders we have made but
The union makes us strong
Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong

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 but
The union makes us strong
Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever, Solidarity Forever
For the union makes us strong

Picture from http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/joeway0.htm

Category:

Music

Tags:

• leonard
• cohen
• solidarity
• workers
• songs

[MrNanotext]

Here is an idea: make all union songs on YouTube go viral as a way to show your support for WI unions

[speakingcohen]

Thanks so much for uploading this and also posting the lyrics. Just so beautiful and heartfelt.

[deusdevil]

Only Leonard Cohen can make this song depressing hahaha... I love you Cohen, but man... dang!

[leviathanopolitan]

As a working man I appreciate Leonard's support, but this song is probably best left to Pete Seeger. Or maybe Cohen should try it without IV'ing enough heroin to turn his blood into wallpaper paste first.

[fearlessfred14]

The second verse for me gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. The only power the 1% have is the feeble power of their own hands, and the power they buy from the 99%. This second power we can take back, and when the 1% no longer have it, "their hoarded gold" is just heavy rocks. Furthermore, returning to the world we lived in four years ago is literally impossible, so it is our duty to "bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old". Otherwise the 1% will, and it won't be pretty.

[leicafool]

why is it that management and the corporate boards are blamed for such scurges as outsourcing, give backs and other legitimate concerns of the workers? there seems to be enough blame on both sides. however, the ones i think really deservant of the blame game are the corporate shareholders who insist on dividends and increased value for their shares. management and their boardmembers dont give a damn about the lowly workers as we are dime a dozen and only to live up to the demands of owners

[redfordforpresident]

@wid85 The problem with police is that they use K9 dogs. Someday, probably when it's way too late, the cops will realize that all their bad luck stems from placing innocent dogs into the dangerous situations that humans have created. St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, has told me this, so direct your comments to him, not me. Then listen to Red Foley and Elvis Presley sing Old Shep, from the viewpoint of K9 dogs. Most cops don't even buy their dog partners bulletproof vests.

[wid85]

@fearlessfred14

I agree with you. Even though the work of the cops includes making sure that we don't directly change social relations, there will be many individual cops who will try to avoid this part of their job, or even undermine it. Additionally, there are going to be some people who own small businesses who struggle to get by and are against this system which is funded and controlled by the very rich for their own gain.

[fearlessfred14]

@fearlessfred14

I'll even go farther than my original statement. Thanks to all the businesses who have shown solidarity for Wisconsin workers (yes, they do exist). While some may be suspicious of any "capitalists", I am sure many of them genuinely support the movement. After all, they are nothing without the willing support of workers, both as employees and customers. Solidarity is a strong word and should not be used lightly.

[fearlessfred14]

@wid85

You have a very good point, and I have used "working class" far more frequently than before I started protesting. However, cops are wage earners and, in Wisconsin, they know it. Solidarity means putting aside differences to fight pivotal struggles such as this one.

[wid85]

@fearlessfred14

Be careful about the use of the term middle class. The fundamental contradiction of capitalism is between wage earners and employers, not between richer and poorer sections of the wage earning class, or the bigger or smaller capitalist enterprises. The problem with the police is not that they are "middle class" but that they are an instrument of the enforcement of the social relations of capitalism that maintains class society as such. The same goes for scabs and managers.

[fearlessfred14]

Public unions in WI have made the police force an institution manned by the middle class, and aware of its position in this class war (I'm not even a socialist and I see this as one). Thanks to the cops who have shown solidarity with their fellow workers, even as their appointed superiors try to use them to divide us.