“The Maids’ Defiance” Sheet Music (pdf).
“The Maids’ Defiance” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Anonymous.
Tune: “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
We are coming all together;
We are organized to stay.
For nigh on fifty years or more,
We’ve worked for little pay.
But now we’ve got our union,
We’ll do it never more.
It’s a long day for housemaid Mary;
It’s a long day’s hard toil.
It’s a burden too hard to carry,
So our mistress’s schemes we’ll foil.
We’ll be silent no longer.
We won’t be kept down.
And we’re out for a shorter day this summer,
Or we’ll fix Denver town.
We’ve answered all your doorbells,
And we’ve washed your dirty kid.
For lo these many, weary years,
We’ve done as we were bid.
But we’re goin’ to fight for freedom,
And for our rights, we’ll stand.
And we’re goin’ to stick together
In One Big Union band.
It’s a long day for housemaid Mary;
It’s a long day’s hard toil.
It’s a burden too hard to carry,
So our mistress’s schemes we’ll foil.
We’ll be silent no longer.
We won’t be kept down.
And we’re out for a shorter day this summer,
Or we’ll fix Denver town.
We’ve washed your dirty linen,
And we’ve cooked your daily foods.
We’ve eaten in your kitchens,
And we’ve stood your ugly moods.
But now we’ve joined the union,
And we’re organized to stay.
It’s a long day for housemaid Mary;
It’s a long day’s hard toil.
It’s a burden too hard to carry,
So our mistress’s schemes we’ll foil.
We’ll be silent no longer.
We won’t be kept down.
And we’re out for a shorter day this summer,
Or we’ll fix Denver town.
You’ve paid the going wages.
That’s what kept us on the run.
You say you’ve done your duty,
You cranky son-of-a-gun.
We’ve stood for all your crazy bunk,
And still you rave and shout
And call us inefficient
And a lazy gad-about.
It’s a long day for housemaid Mary;
It’s a long day’s hard toil.
It’s a burden too hard to carry,
So our mistress’s schemes we’ll foil.
We’ll be silent no longer.
We won’t be kept down.
And we’re out for a shorter day this summer,
Or we’ll fix Denver town.