“In the Days of ’49” Sheet Music (pdf).
“In the Days of ’49” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Alistair Hulett.
Lyrics: Alistair Hulett.
Tune: Alistair Hulett.
In the days of ’49, the Miners’ Federation,
They took on the Big Australian, backed by government and law.
Chifley sent the troops to force them by starvation,
To accept the right of Capital to rule by teeth and claw.
They seized the miners’ property; they threw the leaders into jail;
The papers called it war against the Reds beneath the bed;
The miners stood their ground; they would not submit to blackmail;
And the cash flowed in from far and near to keep their fam’lies fed.
The workers united will never be defeated;
History will honor those who rally to the cause;
Determined and resolved not to be bought out or cheated
’Til bread and peace and liberty’s the common right of all.
Painters, dockers, metal workers, nurses and shopkeepers,
They sent cash and food, wrote letters of support to help the fight;
The thing that was most needed was eEndorsement from the Trades and Labor Council,
But the cowards kept their kid gloves lily white.
The workers united will never be defeated;
History will honor those who rally to the cause;
Determined and resolved not to be bought out or cheated
’Til bread and peace and liberty’s the common right of all.
O, it’s aye the bloody same; workers always get the blame,
Holding up the holy wheels of progress; putting spanners in the works,
All we care about is lurks; that’s the reason why
This country’s in a bloody mess! So, live on less!
Working class careerists with an eye on greener pastures
Did a deal with pow’r and capital to stem the growing tide;
The lesson must be learned; it must never be forgotten
How Chifley and his government stood on the bosses’ side.
The workers united will never be defeated;
History will honor those who rally to the cause;
Determined and resolved not to be bought out or cheated
’Til bread and peace and liberty’s the common right of all.
’Til bread and peace and liberty’s the common right of all.
’Til bread and peace and liberty’s the common right of all.