Union Maid
With Arlo
GuthriePete Seeger & The
Almanac Singers (1955)
Philadelphia, PA, 11-10-2006
Philadelphia, PA, 11-10-2006
Sarzana, Italy, 5-23-2009
Australia, 2007
Sacramento, CA
Milwaukee, WI, 2-28-2004
2-19-2009
ward, CA, 9-26-2009
Words: Woody Guthrie (1939-40)
Music: Red Wing old folk songThere once was a union maid,
Who/She never was afraid
Of (the) goons and (the) ginks and (the) company finks
And the deputy sheriffs, who made the raid.
She went to the union hall,
When a meeting it was called
And when the company/Legion boys came 'round,
She always stood her ground.Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union.
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union, till the day I die.This union maid was wise
To the tricks of company spies.
She never got/couldn't be fooled by a company stool,
She'd always organize the guys.
She'd always get/She always got her way,
When she struck for higher pay.
She'd show her card to the company/National Guard
And this is, what she'd say:Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union...
You gals, who wanna be free,
Just take a tip from me:
Get you a man, who's a union man
And join the Ladies' Auxiliary!
Married life ain't hard,
When you've got a union card.
A union man has a happy life,
When he's got a union wife.Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union... (2x)
Updated verse from the 1980s:
You gals, who wanna be free,
Take one tip from me:
Break outta that mold, we've all been sold!
You got a fighting history.
The fight for women's rights
And the union must unite.
Like Mother Jones, let's move/bestir them bones
To the front of every fight!