A short life of trouble In a dark and dusty mine Has been my occupation Now I walk the picket line I was there in Bloody Harlan When we tried to organize The miners faced starvation You could see it in their eyes The Company hired some gun thugs Many miners died it's said They come to k** the union But they lost their lives instead Which side are you on boys, which side are you on? You're either for the rich man, or the union standing strong I came to Ney York City In the year of '43 We would fight hitler's armies In the war across the sea
But they would not hire a miner To do a workmans job At 15 cents an hour Your pockets they will rob Which side are you on boys, which side are you on? You're either for the rich man, or the union standing strong I'll never trust a rich man As long as i draw breath To keep his marble mansion He'll starve a child to d**h And when my life is over Don't mourn my pa**ing long Organize resistance And keep the Union strong! So here's to every miner Who dared to take a stand Who lived to feed his family And died a Union man!