“What We Want” Sheet Music (pdf).
“What We Want” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Joe Hill.
Tune: “Rainbow.”
We want all the workers in the world
To organize into a great big union grand.
And when we all united stand,
The world for workers we demand.
If the working class could only see and realize
What mighty power labor has,
Then the exploiting master class
Would soon fade away.
Come all ye toilers that work for wages.
Come from every land.
Join the fighting band
In one union grand.
Then, for the workers, we’ll make upon this earth a paradise
When the slaves get wise and organize.
We want the sailor and the tailor and the lumberjacks,
And all the cooks and laundry girls.
We want the guy who dives for pearls,
The pretty maid that’s making curls,
And the baker and the staker and the chimney sweep.
We want the man that’s slinging hash,
The child that works for little cash
In one union grand.
Come all ye toilers that work for wages.
Come from every land.
Join the fighting band
In one union grand.
Then, for the workers, we’ll make upon this earth a paradise
When the slaves get wise and organize.
We want the tinner and the skinner and the chambermaid.
We want the man that spikes on soles.
We want the man that’s digging holes.
We want the man that’s climbing poles,
And the trucker and the mucker and the hired man,
And all the fact’ry girls and clerks.
Yes, we want everyone that works
In one union grand.
Come all ye toilers that work for wages.
Come from every land.
Join the fighting band
In one union grand.
Then, for the workers, we’ll make upon this earth a paradise
When the slaves get wise and organize.