Seeger's father was Charles Seeger (1886–1979), an important folklorist and musicologist; her mother was Seeger's second wife, Ruth Porter Crawford Ruth Crawford seeger (1901–1953), a modernist composer who was one of the first women to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship. ... (family photo)
One of her brothers is Mike Seeger, and the well-known songwriter Pete Seeger is her half-brother.
One of Peggy Seeger's first recordings was "American Folk Songs for Children" (1955), considered one of her most enduring, and probably the best-selling, collection of children's songs ever recorded.
Together with MacColl, Seeger joined The Critics Group, performing satirical songs in a mixture of theatre, comedy and song. Seeger and MacColl recorded as a duo and as solo artists; MacColl wrote "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in Seeger's honor.
If You Want A Better Life
Peggy Seeger Lyrics
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You gotta make a change
And if you want to make a change
You'll need a union too
And if you want a union
You've got to learn to fight
'Cause when you've got a union
You've got to make it fight for you
Sittin' in the boardroom
Head in your hands
Got to talk to someone
Yes, you need a friend
Trouble at the factory
Trouble on the line
Tell it to the union
It's the best friend you can find
If You Want a Better Life
You gotta make a change
And if you want to make a change
You'll need a union too
And if you want a union
You've got to learn to fight
'Cause when you've got a union
You've got to make it fight for you
Sittin' in the canteen
When you're shift is done
Trouble in your life now
Yes, you need someone
Changin' regulations
Trouble on the ward
Take it to the union
It's what you got that union for
If You Want a Better Life
You gotta make a change
And if you want to make a change
You'll need a union too
And if you want a union
You've got to learn to fight
'Cause when you've got a union
You've got to make it fight for you
Do we stand the night in
Do we divide and fall
Is it one for one now
Or is it all for all
So put the screws on
That trouble spot
And use the union
The most useful tool we've got
If You Want a Better Life
You gotta make a change
And if you want to make a change
You'll need a union too
And if you want a union
You've got to learn to fight
'Cause when you've got a union
You've got to make it fight for you
Better wages and conditions
Is that all we need?
What about the food we eat?
And the air we breath?
If you want you're union
To make a better life
You better make your union
Help to keep this world alive
If You Want a Better Life
You gotta make a change
And if you want to make a change
You'll need a union too
And if you want a union
You've got to learn to fight
'Cause when you've got a union
You've got to make it fight for you
The song "If You Want a Better Life" by Peggy Seeger is a rallying cry for the importance of unions and the need for social and political change. The song begins with the central message that in order to achieve a better life, one must make a change. This call to action is then followed by the assertion that individuals can no longer achieve this change alone and that the support and unity of a union is necessary. However, the song warns that joining a union is not enough; one must also learn to fight in order to give power to their union and make meaningful change.
As the song continues, Seeger addresses the many forms of struggle that individuals may face in their daily lives, such as layoffs, regulation changes, and factory troubles. In the face of these struggles, Seeger emphasizes the role of unions as sources of support and solutions to these problems. The song also advocates for broader societal change, pointing out that better wages and working conditions are not the only improvements needed for a better life. To truly make a difference, Seeger argues that unions must think beyond individual concerns and consider the impact of their actions on the world at large, including the food and air we consume.
Overall, the lyrics reflect the idea that individual change, while important, is not enough to enact true social change, and that individuals must come together to advocate for their shared interests and make a better life for themselves and for others.
Line by Line Meaning
If You Want a Better Life
To have a better life, you must take action
You gotta make a change
You need to make a change in your life to make it better
And if you want to make a change
In order to make a positive change, you need to take action
You'll need a union too
To make a significant change, you'll need the power of a group
And if you want a union
If you want to form a union, you need to put in the effort
You've got to learn to fight
You must be willing to fight for better working conditions
'Cause when you've got a union
When you have a union, you have support in making changes
You've got to make it fight for you
You should actively participate in your union to make it work for you
Sittin' in the boardroom
Sitting in a boardroom, feeling powerless to make changes
Head in your hands
Feeling defeated and upset
Got to talk to someone
You need someone to confide in
Yes, you need a friend
Having a friend to support you can help during hard times
Trouble at the factory
Difficulties at work
Trouble on the line
Problems with production
Tell it to the union
Share your issues with your union
It's the best friend you can find
Your union is the most reliable support you can have
Sittin' in the canteen
Taking a break from work
When you're shift is done
After a long day at work
Trouble in your life now
Difficulties outside of work
Changin' regulations
Changes in rules or policies
Trouble on the ward
Problems in healthcare
Take it to the union
Bring your problems to your union for support
It's what you got that union for
Your union is there to help you during difficult times
Do we stand the night in
Will we stay strong through hardships
Do we divide and fall
Will disagreements break us apart
Is it one for one now
Are we fighting alone, or together
Or is it all for all
Will we support each other
So put the screws on
Apply pressure to make changes
That trouble spot
The source of the problem
And use the union
Work with your union to create change
The most useful tool we've got
A union is a powerful tool to make change
Better wages and conditions
Improving pay and working conditions is important
Is that all we need?
Is that enough to make work enjoyable and fulfilling?
What about the food we eat?
What about the quality of our food?
And the air we breath?
What about the quality of our air?
If you want you're union
If you want to utilize your union
To make a better life
To create a better future
You better make your union
You need to be an active participant in your union
Help to keep this world alive
Working with your union can help create a better future for everyone
Contributed by Micah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.