“Idris Strike Song” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Idris Strike Song” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Chumbawamba.
Lyrics: Anonymous.
Tune: “Every Nice Girl Loves a Sailor.”
Have you been to work at Idris?
No, we won’t go in today
For we’re standing by our comrade,
And we’ll never run away.
She stood bravely by the union,
And she spoke up for us true.
And if she gets the sack,
No, we never will go back
Whate’er they do, whate’er they do.
Now you boys who’re washing bottles,
It really is a shame
To take the place of women.
Don’t you think you are to blame?
Come with us and join the union.
Never heed what Idris say.
We are out to right the wrong,
And now we shan’t be long.
Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
Master Willy, Master Willy,
You must give in once again.
It was wrong to sack a woman
With two children to maintain.
Thirteen years, she’s faithf’lly served you,
Though she was three minutes late.
But our little sister, Anne,
Why she never checked the man
At the gate, at the gate.
Oh, you great king in the palace
And you statesmen at the top,
When you’re drinking soda water
Or imbibing ginger pop,
Think of those who work at Idris
For very little pay
And who only get nine bob
For a most unpleasant job.
Alackaday! Alackaday!
Now then, girls all join the union
Whatever you may be
In pickles, jam, or choc’lates,
Or packing pounds of tea.
For we all want better wages,
And this is what we say,
“We are out to right the wrong,
And now, we shan’t be long!
Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!”