“The Stevedore and the Boss” Sheet Music (pdf).
“The Stevedore and the Boss” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Anonymous.
Tune: “Red Wing.”
You stevedores are sad and feeling mighty bad;
You loaf all day and get no pay
(That’s what I hear most of you say).
And when the ship it docks, you wooden-headed blocks
Line up like fools and work like mules
To fatten up the boss.
Are you going to be a fool forever
And not endeavor yourself to sever
From your conditions that are not inspiring
But awful tiring to working folk?
Your fat boss does no work but drives you with a smirk.
The dock is rough; your job is tough;
He never says you’ve done enough.
He says, “Come on, don’t buck! You just load up that truck
And take a scoot for yonder chute
Or else get off the dock!”
Are you going to be a fool forever
And not endeavor yourself to sever
From your conditions that are not inspiring
But awful tiring to working folk?
Now, workers, don’t get blue. I’ll tell you what to do:
Don’t be an ass but join your class
And help to liberate the mass
Of workers that are slaves to all these crafty knaves,
Of Plutocrats and other rats
That keep us in distress.
Won’t you come right on up and join the workers,
Marine Transport Workers, and soak the shirkers?
You will get fewer hours and better wages
Than you’ve had for ages
If you’ll get wise.