Union Songs
Madison
A Song by Liam Gerner and Eric Lynn©Liam Gerner and Eric Lynn 2011
- [play]
Its heating up in Madison on this cold black cloudy day
We won't let the hope that burns within us be broken by this test
The ice is melting down on the street but not from the heat of the winter's rays
It's cause there's fire in the hearts of its people while they march along to keep themselves free
Crushing up the out of control cold soul of this Capitalist machine
We wont be swept away by this avalanche of lost progress Its melting down in Madison, you can feel the fire in their souls
Melt away Walker's ice-cold grip, free from his stronghold
Our teachers are worth more than money could ever be
And we've got the power the power of the people and we can overcome this greed We won't let the hope that burns within us be broken by this test
We wont be swept away by this avalanche of lost progress Let the protest etch into our minds, the strength of family
Together we can hold back, together we can hold back
Together we can hold back this avalanche of greed We won't let the hope that burns within us be broken by this test
We wont be swept away by this avalanche of lost progress
We won't let the hope that burns within us be broken by this test We wont be swept away, Hear all the people say
We wont be swept away by this avalanche of lost progress
Notes
Many thanks to Liam Gerner and Eric Lynn for permission to add this song to the Union Songs collectionLiam writes
'I wrote the song Madison while on tour in the USA Feb - August 2011. I was opening up for Ryan Bingham and we had spent the few weeks before our Madison concert on the tour bus following the Wisconsin protests on the news. We were so angry at what was happening to the peoples working rights. Basically the new governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker was trying to eliminate collective bargaining rights, people would never again be able to bargain for their wages, teachers fire fighters, public care workers etc. He was essentially is a puppet for the Koch brothers and big business in the US. Wisconsin is the State where labor unions first began in the USA, so this was a shock that they may end there too. In order to prevent Governor Walker voting this legislation through 14 Democratic senators had left Wisconsin for several weeks to a secret location so the vote could not be passed. This caused a big uprising in Wisconsin, teachers, policemen, middle class people began protesting and sleeping at the capital building for weeks in the depths of winter. In the end Governor Waker illegally put the legislation through in the early hours of the morning and the protesters went crazy, one hundred thousand people (in a city of 50,000) protested the next day.I reached Madison around that day and went to the see the protests at the capital. It felt different from the any protest id been too, the police were welcoming, these were people who didn't usually protest out there marching, the middle class essentially. It was very moving. After Ryan and I walked around the capital building and met with some of the locals heard their stories, how they had been sleeping for weeks in the capital building then going to work to teach each day, all the while looking after their families, they had not stop protesting. I went and wrote this song 'Madison' that afternoon and performed it in his concert that night at the Majestic Theatre.
In April 2012 I was invited back to perform the song at the march in Madison to recall Governor Walker (the recall is scheduled for June 6 2012). i performed the song to 68,000 people at the protest. It was an amazing to be apart of this fight, the song is dedicated to the people of Wisconsin for their commitment to community and fight against greed. Their protest sparked the movement now known as the Occupy movement.
The song was recorded in Los Angeles with Eric Lynn helping kick the song into shape and with Karl Brazil (drums), Mark Goldenberg (Slide guitar), Shawn Davis (bass). The song features in a documentary feature film about the protests called ' We Are Wisconsin' directed by Amie Williams.'
BIOGRAPHY: Liam Gerner is a 29 year old Australian singer songwriter. In recent years Liam has been based and toured relentlessly in Europe, UK, Australia and the USA. In 2011 he toured Europe and the USA opening up for Ryan Bingham and playing guitar in Ryans band The Dead Horses. He also plays in the band Pnau. Liam has also toured opening up for Roger Daltrey, Drive by Truckers, Paul Weller, Jason Isbell, Alanis Morisette, Paolo Nutini, Newton Faulkner, Elton John and Amy MacDonald. Liam has recently based in to Topanga Canyon, California where he is writing and recording a new album and touring.
union songs..........a selection by mark gregory