Union Songs
Mayday Mayday
A Song by Adam Dunn (Swarmy G)©2002 Adam Dunn- [play]
The unions need you and me to join in unity
and stand hand in hand to expand our community
I disagree with the way - our rights distintegrating
who's with me? play your part - start participating
unions brought about lots of what you are handed
benefits and rights that you might take for granted
unions are the voice and silent we'd be stranded
you should be treated fairly stand up and demand it.
WHO will represent me when I'm left on my own?
WHO will fight for fairness when no caring is shown?
WHY's my pay shrunken to the size of a gnome?
WHY must I kill myself just to keep my home?
while the rich get richer - poverty's overgrown
savings is a term which is no longer known
getting fair healthcare's like getting blood from a stone
only wealth creates the wealth that tax shelters condone
meanwhile the hardest workers are all worked to the bone
just to pay the interest off their mortgage & loans
you own the choice to make sure you have a voice
ensure a better future for your girls and your boys
take the first step - talk to your union rep
make a change together or they'll assume we accept
keep your workplace safe - and your conditions correct
and approach your own future with a clear intellect
understand you need a union if you want to be heard
work hard to earn your pay - and get what you deserve.Chorus
MAYDAY MAYDAY - solidarity's the only way
MAYDAY MAYDAY - It's about time we had our say
MAYDAY MAYDAY - we won't be held back no way
MAYDAY MAYDAY - our voices won't fade away
MAYDAY MAYDAY - solidarity's the only way
MAYDAY MAYDAY - It's about time we had our say
MAYDAY MAYDAY - we won't be held back no way
MAYDAY MAYDAY - our voices won't fade away.Mayday Mayday - make a stand without malaise
we come in peace - why can't police come the same way?
a sad state of affairs our cries met with blank stares
caught by the curly hairs to obey what the bank says
the fact is if you think it's fine? - you gotta be blind
Austudy is well below the poverty line
now the cost of education is a life of debt
and you wonder why some have turned to crime instead
just to pay for books let alone pay the rent
while most these hypocrites have never paid a red cent
not investing in our future rather spend on defence
hospitals shut for velodromes just don't make sense
employees are expensed - intense pressure on those left
to reach the benchmark set - stressed to an early death
downsizing a rising trend - redundancies abundant
casuals see no currency - after all you're just a number
directors plunder funds until the company goes under
they're paid more than 10 workers - so really it's no wonder
let's turn the power of one into one unified power
to fight in unison and shout in spite of John Howard
Notes
Many thanks to Adam Dunn (Swarmy G) for permission to add this (rap) song to the Union Songs collection.
The song was the winner of the Wobbly Radio Workers Song Competition in 2002 and was performed at the May Day toast in Sydney on May 1st as well as the May Day march on May 5th outside Sydney Town Hall.
union songs..........a selection by mark gregory