“Vanzetti’s Rock” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Vanzetti’s Rock” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Woody Guthrie.
Tune: Woody Guthrie.
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Where men like you have stood.
I see the tourists, Vanzetti,
Around your Plymouth’s Rock,
Black glasses, sun goggles, stained glasses,
Smoked glasses to block out the light.
I see them come here as you seen them,
But I see lots more than you saw,
I see them in fast running cars,
You seen them in wagons and carts.
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Where men like you have stood.
These tourists don’t see you, Vanzetti,
These salesmen and gamblers on tour,
Your footprints are dim and your trail is sprung weeds,
Their tourist map don’t show you there.
The trade union workers, Vanzetti,
Will vacation here and we’ll tour
This rock and this town and Plymouth around,
When their statues have souls like yours.
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Where men like you have stood.
Your picture is painted, Vanzetti,
Your words are carved ’round the frames,
Your songs, your poems, your working folks’ dreams,
Will flame with our greatest of names.
Your name I will print on my pointers,
My streets, my mountains, my shops,
Your hopes that you hoped, dreams that you dreamed,
I’ll see that your work never stops.
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Where men like you have stood.
Those talks for the workers, Vanzetti,
I’ll chisel them down on the rock,
I’ll tell every worker to fight like you fought,
Like the Pilgrims that docked on this rock.
I’ll scatter your words on my waters,
To the ships, to the fishes, the gulls,
I’ll cast your fish cart in metals so fine,
And I’ll push it around this world.
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Where men like you have stood.
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
I’m standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Standing on the rock, Vanzetti,
Where men like you have stood.