Solidarity Forever
Pete Seeger Lyrics
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There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun;
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one,
But the union makes us strong.
CHORUS:
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
For the union makes us strong.
Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite,
Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might?
Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight?
For the union makes us strong.
It is we who plowed the prairies; built the cities where they trade;
Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid;
Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made;
But the union makes us strong.
All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone.
We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone.
It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own.
While the union makes us strong.
They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn,
But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn.
We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn
That the union makes us strong.
In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold,
Greater than the might of armies, magnified a thousand-fold.
We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old
For the union makes us strong.
Pete Seeger's song Solidarity Forever is an ode to the strength and power of labor unions. The lyrics evoke images of workers rising up together to fight against the oppressive forces of greed and inequality. The first verse highlights the transformative power of union inspiration, claiming that "there can be no power greater" when it runs through the workers' blood. Seeger acknowledges the futility of individual strength, arguing that the "feeble strength of one" is weaker than any force on earth. However, he asserts that the unity of the union makes its members invincible. The chorus repeats the phrase "Solidarity forever" as a rallying cry to bring workers together in common cause.
Seeger then directly addresses the greed of those who seek to exploit the labor of working people. He asks whether there is anything the workers have in common with the "greedy parasite" who would "lash us into serfdom." Seeger argues that there is nothing left for workers to do but organize and fight against this oppression. The third verse is a reminder of the great achievements of the workers, who "plowed the prairies" and "built the cities." Despite this, Seeger laments that workers are often left "outcast and starving" in the midst of the wonders they have created.
Finally, Seeger asserts the immense power of worker solidarity. He suggests that the world is owned by "idle drones" who have not earned their wealth, but that this ownership rightfully belongs to the workers. He claims that the union empowers workers to "slave no more," but to "master and to own." Seeger argues that workers possess a power greater than any amount of gold, greater than any military might. He suggests that the power of the workers can bring about a new world from the ashes of the old, but only if they remain united and in solidarity.
Line by Line Meaning
When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run,
When the union becomes the driving force behind the workers' actions,
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun;
There is no greater power in the world than a strong union.
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one,
There is no weaker force than a single individual acting alone,
But the union makes us strong.
But when individuals unite under a common purpose, they become powerful and unstoppable.
CHORUS:
Solidarity forever,
We are united in our solidarity,
For the union makes us strong.
And the union is the source of that strength.
Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite,
Do we have anything in common with those who exploit us for their own gain?
Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might?
Those who seek to enslave and oppress us using their power and influence.
Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight?
The only option we have is to band together and resist.
For the union makes us strong.
Because the union is our strength.
It is we who plowed the prairies; built the cities where they trade;
We are the ones who built this country - from the prairies to the cities.
Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid;
We built the infrastructure that powers this nation - the mines, workshops, and railroads.
Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made;
And yet, in spite of all we've done, we find ourselves ignored, rejected, and suffering.
But the union makes us strong.
But we can take control of our destiny by uniting together under the union banner.
All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone.
The world belongs to the workers, not the wealthy elite who do nothing to earn their riches.
We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone.
We have created the foundation upon which society is built and have made it stronger over time.
It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own.
We deserve to be the masters of our own destiny and not slaves to wealth or power.
While the union makes us strong.
And the union is the key to unlocking our full potential.
They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn,
Wealthy elites have taken vast sums of money without lifting a finger to earn it.
But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn.
But their money is worthless without the contributions and hard work of the workers to keep everything running.
We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn
If we unite and work together, we can overthrow their oppressive system and gain our freedom.
That the union makes us strong.
Because the power of the union is greater than the power of the wealthy elites.
In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold,
In our hands is a power greater than the wealth and influence of those who hoard gold and resources.
Greater than the might of armies, magnified a thousand-fold.
Our power, when united, surpasses even the might of armies and can become a force to be reckoned with.
We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old
If we work together and use our power to effect change, we can create a new future out of the wreckage of the past.
For the union makes us strong.
Because the union is the foundation of that power.
Contributed by Nolan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.