Billy Bragg - There Is Power In A Union Lyrics






There is power in a factory, power in the land
Power in the hands of a worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
There is power in a Union

Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
War has always been the bosses' way, sir

The Union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union

Now I long for the morning that they realise
Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
When the bosses send their lackies out to cheat us?

Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
There is power in a Union

The Union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters together we will stand
There is power in a Union





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Billy Bragg There Is Power In A Union Comments
  1. A.... I....

    There is power in the unions but that power is in the hands of crooked union executives who abuse such power such as taking money from those who do not qualify to join the union, screwing over junior members in favor of senior ones, and colluding with certain businesses to create artificial barriers to entry and to drive out competition.

    I am pro-union despite my indifference with public sector collective bargaining and my distrust to modern union leadership. We just need to clean out the leadership or establish new unions dedicated to establishing due process especially concerning customer complaints, conflict resolution, and getting people catastrophic health coverage.

  2. 6.... ....

    BERNIE 2020!!

  3. A.... T....

    Thinking about this a lot today

    A.... T....

    Labour 🔺🔺

  4. J.... G....

    Excellent.... God bless the workers! All power to the International Working Class! The only social force that can lift society out off the crises of fascism and a third world war! Another world IS possible! We have to create it! USA 2019

  5. j.... ....

    The original song is from the american civil war : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGKnc_YiR-E

  6. I.... D....

    4 ALL 4 Billy Bragg

  7. T.... ....

    Fascists, Fuck off !!!

  8. H.... d....

    Workers of the world unite!

  9. C.... M....

    "Money speaks for money, The Devil for his own"
    well that's not very charitable to the moneyed classes. I mean it's not wrong but still.

  10. S.... B....

    Kill the Capitalists in the streets.

    S.... B....

    Cool it with the anti-semitic remarks

  11. O.... C....

    2019- Solidarity with the United Auto Workers in the US!

  12. T.... K....

    Great song!

  13. C.... H....

    Do any of you know Braggs form ?
    A traitor to the society he pretends to sing for.
    He is the establishment

    C.... H....

    Too right.

    The folks in this comment section are just LARPing bourgie cunts

    C.... H....

    @Scott Raynor He's happy to see the working class drown under the weight of corporate-inspired immigration, and happy for their daughters to be raped en masse as an offering for diversity.

  14. d.... ....

    Love this song! Unions need to keep fighting the fight!

  15. R.... P....

    IBEW Local 3 (ADM)

  16. J.... R....

    Amazing song & message! Came here from watching Pride endlessly - ending song! 💖

  17. M.... ....

    Walmart lol

  18. D.... A....

    Listening to this as we get ready to go into contract negotiations! Was nervous, and felt stronger after listening, thanks Billy Bragg!

  19. M.... M....

    I'd like to have the lyrics, but I can't find it anywhere. Can anyone help please?

  20. D.... s....

    Kaissereich bougth me here

  21. t.... d....

    Solidarity

  22. A.... A....

    Reunite brothers! Stand for your rights!

  23. P.... M....

    when the fires start brightening the darkened skies, and the workers come together to rebuild in their own image, the union will be powerful again.
    viva la revolucione

  24. O.... H....

    got my red card today!!! Solidarity forever!!!!

  25. h.... ....

    IWW I.U. 650 represent! An Injury to One is an Injury to All!

  26. T.... B....

    SHUT UP REED DOWN WITH THE TRAITORS UP WITH THE STARS

  27. m.... ....

    Ahold delhiez, we won.

  28. C.... P....

    Roses are red, violets are blue.
    There are a lot more of us
    than there will ever be of you!
    SOLIDARITY!

  29. A.... Z....

    power in the hands of the worker

  30. K.... H....

    Diction is very important when you want to send a message in a song. Not everyone is from Ireland. I had to listen to this at 1/4 speed five times to understand this guy. It was a great message by the way. Remember, before unions, there was no such thing as a living wage or a weekend! Semper Fi

    K.... H....

    He isnt irish.

  31. M.... L....

    #Solidarity #StopAndShopWorkers

  32. s.... p....

    We are equal under the law of land as workers but not under the sun and sky

  33. L.... A....

    solidarity from Chicago

  34. h.... k....

    Bernie Sanders has unionized his campaign workers! First ever! Power to the Union!!

  35. B.... S....

    Power to are brothers and sisters from a member of the FBU💪

  36. A.... R....

    Hurrah to Joe Hill ! Hurrah to Anarchy !

  37. b.... b....

    There is power in a factory, power in the land
    Power in the hands of a worker
    But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
    There is power in a union

    Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
    The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
    From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
    War has always been the bosses' way, sir

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

    Now I long for the morning that they realise
    Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
    But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
    When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?

    Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
    Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
    What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
    There is power in a union

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

  38. M.... H....

    Solidarity to the RMT for their Victory and Solidarity to all workers in struggle lets get Jeremy Corbyn elected what a world we could build then

  39. P.... S....

    Gonna play this 24hrs on loop in front of an amazon factory

  40. S.... N....

    Proud union member here finding inspiration from this song.

  41. D.... i....

    there is power when workers organize!!!

  42. j.... ....

    QQ more about being unsuccessful.

  43. M.... S....

    Power to the workers!

    Industrial Workers Of the World
    IU 620

  44. J.... V....

    Even with all the jobs,jobs,jobs, the companies, CEO'S, and bosses still treat the workers with no respect.without a union,without solidarity the workers Wil be let go for any infraction that do..LIVING WAGE,MEDICAL,AND BETTER WORK CONDITIONS,THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE..

  45. R.... K....

    unions back when billy bragg was singing about them were needed. in today's america they are corrupt and terrible for the country and the workers.

  46. W.... R....

    Workers rise up, no force can stop a united army of workers. Whether a peaceful process or an all out revolution if we remain united then nothing can stop us.

  47. T.... J....

    Wobble Wobble

  48. H.... J....

    671 Blackpool Road Preston supports frack free Lancashire vote Labour

  49. B.... C....

    Yeah, Ronald Reagan thought so too. And that's why he destroyed them, thoroughly and for good. "Never safe again." That's what Ronnie would say. That's everyone's replaceable, and everyone's for sale. But maybe not me. And maybe not you. Maybe together we'll all REALIZE that soon.

    Maybe. It's a dream, anyway. And dreams are worth fighting for—I do realize THAT. As often as possible! •b18

  50. P.... D....

    This song and its message is so current now more than ever! Whichever place you live rise up! Be heard be counted and make the changes we need! There really is power in a union!!

  51. J.... ....

    Join your unions, it is worth it. It's our only defense.

  52. M.... W....

    The union forever! Defending our rights!

    M.... W....

    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite!

  53. T.... E....

    This song emboldens me for the fight to come. I am an Oakland teacher union rep. We are bracing ourselves to fight this year for our kids where the achievement gap is as bad as it ever was. Wish us luck and strength in the months to come. We will need it! Millions of dollars were fiscally mismanaged by our bosses and our kids are now forced to go without!

    T.... E....

    p.s. It makes me cry too!

  54. w.... b....

    gutted I missed this guy at boomtown

  55. o.... ....

    UNION FOREVER

  56. S.... A....

    143 scabs?

  57. R.... W....

    There is power in a factory, power in the land
    Power in the hands of a worker
    But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
    There is power in a union

    Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
    The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
    From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
    War has always been the bosses' way, sir

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

    Now I long for the morning that they realise
    Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
    But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
    When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?

    Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
    Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
    What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
    There is power in a union

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

  58. P.... C....

    139 Thatcherites got lost after googling power and union ;)

    https://mouvementbonapartiste.wordpress.com/2018/05/27/n9255-imperial-decree-which-authorises-in-favour-of-the-coal-miners-of-the-departement-of-the-ourthe-the-forming-of-a-provident-society-whose-administration-shall-be-established-in-liege/

  59. D.... B....

    I just shared this song with a friend that, himself just shared, news the RMT (Tube workers union) will strike when Trump visits London. Solidarity with the RMT and with all fellow workers!

  60. W.... F....

    Janus is not the end, comrades. Let a new age of militancy begin.

  61. c.... c....

    “Pride” brings me here

  62. C.... N....

    For some reason I don’t believe this is a civil war song, maybe it’s the electric guitar.

  63. D.... C....

    Thank you, comrade Billy Bragg.

    Only one royal class on this earth: the working class, those with nothing.

    (a damn proud trade-union member of the UCU, Unite (Community member) and the Labour Party).

  64. l.... r....

    Billy Bragg is a cheeky cunt, this song was written during the US civil war...what a twat

    l.... r....

    Ah the pwoer and stupidty plus ignorance of those who have no education. Goodle is not a fast track to knowledge laddie. Obviously you can read, now why dont you use that skill and get an education?

    l.... r....

    Listen to me you waterheaded wierdo I already told you the history of the song, along with specific information about who wrote it and when, if you don't want to accept that, that's fine, but you're the fool here, not me.

    l.... r....

    So provide some fucking sources you immense idiot.  I provided sources, its now on you to refute them with more reputable sources instead of spewing off about shit you obviously know nothing about.

    l.... r....

    Oh grow up nd get an education..Sources?? Not via Google, just knowledge, something you lack. When your IQ gets to 50, sell!

    l.... r....

    So you have absolutely no sources to back up your baseless claims, just "knowledge" which you pulled out of your ass and are attempting to appear inteligent with now.  Sure mate, sure.  The internet can't answer all questions, but it sure can answer who wrote this song.  It was Joe Hill in 1913, a trade unionist and a communist, not your imagined northern general or whatever.  You're an imbecyle.  IQ of 50 is far beyond your reach.  Now fuck off out of here.

  65. a.... j....

    Comrades💖

  66. J.... M....

    Solidarity is our weapon <3

  67. D.... ....

    Union 'til I die!!! Stand together and defend the rights of us all!!!

  68. C.... S....

    Solidarity <3

  69. J.... D....

    Shout, shout the battle cry of freedom.

    J.... D....

    Yes this is to the tune of "Battle Cry Of Freedom." Billy must have liked the tune.

    J.... D....

    Woody Guthrie sang this song

  70. G.... G....

    Stronger Together in Stoke-on-Trent

  71. P.... W....

    WEST VIRGINIA TEACHERS brought me back here, baby!

  72. J.... B....

    UAW Local 1264. Solidarity my union brothers and sisters!

  73. M.... M....

    Excellent use of the Classic American tune The Battle Cry of Freedom. I am very happy to be able to say in absolute sincerity
    UNION NOW AND FOREVER!

  74. c.... r....

    yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  75. C.... ....

    As one who grew up in Milwaukee, and had to deal with Scott Walker this song means a lot!

  76. S.... G....

    Unions are lame.

  77. b.... ....

    Based on the Battle Cry of Freedom of the American Civil War

  78. C.... M....



    There Is Power in a Union

    Billy Bragg

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    Lyrics

    There is power in a factory, power in the land
    Power in the hands of a worker
    But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
    There is power in a union

    Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
    The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
    From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
    War has always been the bosses' way, sir

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

    Now I long for the morning that they realise
    Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
    But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
    When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?

    Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
    Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
    What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
    There is power in a union

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

  79. t.... ....

    Eat the rich

  80. r.... ....

    Solidarity to comrades the world over from the GMB

  81. V.... W....

    There is no power in the unions in the UK - Thatcher broke the unions and they remain broken. Billy is dealing in fantasy now. Todays generation to lazy and to interested in their selves to work with each other.

    V.... W....

    To be fair, he did write this a long time ago. Perhaps a warning that the unions would be gone in the future (today) if we didn't get off our arses. He was right.

  82. R.... T....

    All power to my brothers and sisters in the struggle. We will win.

  83. B.... G....

    There Is Power in a Union
    Billy Bragg
    Lyrics
    There is power in a factory, power in the land
    Power in the hands of a worker
    But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
    There is power in a union

    Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
    The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
    From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
    War has always been the bosses' way, sir

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

    Now I long for the morning that they realise
    Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
    But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise
    When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?

    Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
    Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
    What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
    There is power in a union

    The Union forever defending our rights
    Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
    With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
    There is power in a union

    Songwriters: Billy Bragg
    There Is Power in a Union lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

  84. N.... B....

    With Industry declining in America, our concept of Unionization hasn't adjusted accordingly. Unionize the Service Industries!

    N.... B....

    Fuck yeah.

    N.... B....

    The IWW are working on this.

  85. R.... K....

    POWER IN A UNION

  86. R.... K....

    THIS SONG MEANS POWER

  87. I.... A....

    Am not a particularly political person but this is a heck of a song!

  88. J.... Y....

    Thanks you Billy! Loved hearing the history of this song on @FreshAir with Terry Gross!

  89. C.... J....

    every time i've had a drink i can hear this creeping up in the back of me head

  90. A.... C....

    Anyone know where I can find guitar tabs

  91. t.... ....

    ignorant morons

  92. G.... V....

    Is Corbyn a committed socialist? Or will he use the side door of social democracy to sell us out?

    G.... V....

    He is a committed Socialist.

  93. C.... E....

    proud to lead the students strike of 98

  94. s.... ....

    Such powerful words. For me, the idea of union goes much beyond the concept of workers united against bosses, and extends to all the oppressed resisting their oppressors. This isn't to say worker solidarity isn't a crucial part of that, but iit's just that, a part of a much wider struggle, though a key part, to be sure. It's a dark hour now, and I do fear it's going to get much darker before the light returns. but as dark as the hour seems now, know that all hope is not lost, and that by reaching out to each other, by standing up and setting aside differences, we can overcome. Solidarity to everyone who engages in fight with their oppressors. You have a confidence and means I do not have, but you have my moral and intellectual support. That's all I have for now. Someday I'll add music and words to this, but for now, encouragement is what I can give.

  95. n.... d....

    solidarity forever

  96. C.... F....

    Sad to say, feckin true

  97. S.... B....

    "There is Power in a Union" Yes indeed there is powerr IF the members use it!! Most don't realize the power they have if they get involved with their Union. This coming from a nearly 40 year Union member.

    S.... B....

    my coworkers & i are being worked without getting paid and i've tried to get them to sign a grevience (we're unionized!) and they just don't care or don't want to and it makes me sad.

    S.... B....

    we have to fucking organize it

  98. h.... ....

    Together we bargain. Divided we beg.

    h.... ....

    This summation is perfect.

  99. K.... ....

    One Big Union!

  100. D.... S....

    Etu union n.z. From 16 to 27 an hour. That's a union.