It’s International Workers’ Day, something Americans don’t observe – socialism has never appealed to a nation full of millionaires-in-waiting. Well, too bad, capitalist scum. It’s unlikely the workers of the world will ever unite, but you can’t stop them from protesting their lot.
Ed Pickford, a protest singer from northeastern England, has written a lot of songs about the region’s coal mining legacy. He broadened his scope for this tune he wrote this back in the ’70s. It was popularized by a 1981 cover by Scottish folksinger Dick Gaughan; Pickford didn’t record it himself until years later.
It’s been covered by other socially-minded singers and groups. The Dropkick Murphys made it over for the mosh pit crew in 2003.
