SECTION 2: Labour History

COLLECTED MATERIAL	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
What I Think of Australia	-	I sing of Australia, that dear little land,	Australian Melodist No 20 Mitchell library 784.8/A By Pat Finn This song seems to be a song about the trials of the working man. It must be seen in relation to the time it was written, around the 1890 mark when the great shearer's strike led to the establishment of the Australian Labor Party. It then, in the latter part of the song, goes into comparing workers with leading sporting heroes. Check the Sports section of the site to see who these people are.
Song of Europe (anon)	Sing a Song of Sixpence	Sing a song of Europe, highly civilized,	Printed in THE IRON WORKER Vol1 No 4 1928 (331.8806/72 ) Newspaper of the NSW A Branch of Federated Ironworkers Assoc.
unnamed 2 lines	-	Not a minute on the day Not a penny off our pay	THE IRON WORKER Vol 1 No 5. 1929
The Scab	-	-	Appeared in THE IRONWORKER written by Jack London
Ten Little Kanaka Boys	Ten Green Bottles	Ten little kanaka boys were up-ending pine,	This song was printed in theQueensland Figaro Magazine at the turn of the century. Morrison is possibly a reference to the famous fisticuff boxer who appears in several ballads, notably as 'Morrissey and the Russian Sailor' or, equally possible, a reference to the outstanding shearer of the time whose grandchildren went on to establish the Morrison Clothing Company.
Nursery Rhyme for Squatters	-	Nursery rhyme for young squatters	-
Will Lochrane'e Scotch Stump Speech(VOTE FOR LABOUR.)	-	LADIES and gentlemen,—Kindly turn your optics toward me for a few weeks,	IMPERIAL SONGSTER NO. 97 - 1907 This stump speech most probably comes from the Sydney Tivoli and can be dated at the time Australia became Federated because of its mention of George Read. It is typical of the genre and should be compared with two other stump speeches from the period as recalled by Joe Watson – refer Australian Folklore Unit under Watson. I can only surmise that 'Scotch' was the equivalent of our 'double-Dutch'.
I Wonder Who Invented Work?	-	This world I have searched over, I've been in every land,	Printed in the Imperial Songster No. 169 in 1924 and attributed to Claude Baker, Jack Veil and Roy Burch. It was performed 'with laughable absurdity' by Alfred Frith.
Just Tell Them That You Saw Me	Parody: Just Tell Them That You Saw Me	I've just come back from Europe	This must have been a popular tune at the turn of the century as it was collected from both Susan Colley and Sally Sloan in the 1950s. This parody of the song was remarked by T. E. Leonard and was printed in the Tivoli Songster of 1900.
The Gum Tree Wih Six Branches	Australia's On The Wallaby	I roamed the bush one summer's eve, while wattle trees were blooming	This song was sung at the Tivoli Music Hall about 1910 and the words are attributed to Walter P. Keen with music by that old trouper, Joe Salter. The tune has been suggested by Warren Fahey who unearthed the song in 1979. The gumtree now has eight branches with the addition of the Northern Territory and the ACT. A recorded version appears on the 2MBS-FM record Ryder Round Folk, Sydney.
It's a Long Way Down the Soup-Line	It's a Long Way to Tipperary	Bill Brown was just a working man like others of his kind.	Anonymous parody from the Depression. This song was collected from swagman Jack Pobar of Toowoomba, Queensland, who had leant it off a socialist songbook of the 1930s
Charlie Sullivan. The Number One Ticket Holder	(poem)	Charlie Sullivan is dead,	Charles Sullivan was the first member to join the Amalgamated Workers Union holding membership card number 1 dated 1886. The document, from Wagga Wagga, was written by Tim Sullivan. Charles died in 1942 and this handwritten poem was written by him to celebrate the death of the Union's Secretary and Tim changed the name to Charles as a dedication. Microfilm
The Union Of The People	Marching Through Georgia	Sound the unions' cry over sea and land,	By C. Drake and from an undated manuscript in the Mitchell Library, SYDNEY
Union to the Core	-	We are shearers, and not wealthy;	By The Dipsomaniac THE BULLETIN April 25. 1891 Several of the words of this song appear to have disappeared from colloquial use. store = money in the pocket/reserve. gatling = a type of rifle/gun. Pooches = possibly derivative of pouches. Moocheys = I suspect this is a reference to dogs. Sogers = an Irish derivative of soldiers. Gunny = this could be a derivative of gunyah but also possibly of 'gun-moll' or loose woman.
The Working Man's Candidate	stump speech	Gentlemen: I stands before yer, as a candidate, to represent yer in the big talking shop, at the top of George Street.	This nonsense speech is typical on these nineteenth century recitations. It also brings in racist comments against Chinese, Kanakas and Emigrants.

SHEARERS AND GENERAL LABOUR'S RECORD NEWSPAPER The shearers had their own newspaper called the Shearer's and General Labourer's Record and its contents were not too far removed from many union newspapers of today with the exception that their newspaper carried a lot of songs, poems and games- all designed to increase the awareness of the labour struggle.
COLLECTED MATERIAL	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
Unity Boys	Tramp, Tramp, Tramp	Now the shearing's at an end	Printed in the Shearer's Record Newspaper and attributed to G. T. Rilley a union representative stationed at Moonbria. It is interesting to see how many political songs have used this same tune including many of Joe Hill's IWW songs. The Faulkner family were leading pastoralists in New South Wales. Rupert Murdoch purchased their main station.
The Union Marching Song	Marching Through Georgia	You union men of Buckingbung, just listen unto me	Attributed to P. C. of Humula. MARCHING SONGS do not necessarily mean that they were used for marching and this next song, set to that ever-popular song 'Marching Through Georgia', is more like a testament to the Amalgamated Shearers* Union. It has a stirring chorus that is aimed at 'getting the union message across' and encouraging membership.
Shearing Time	-	The shearing time has come again;	Oct 15, 1889 A.H.S.
The Song of the Union Men	-	Come let us be banded together	Jan 1890

PUBLICATION: THE MARITIME WORKER
COLLECTED MATERIAL	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
My Bonnie Lies In Long Bay	My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean	Judge Kelly first asked for the money	Anonymous song from the September 1949 issue of the Maritime Worker and concerns the jailing of the 'twelve' International labour' quasi Communists.
The Screw and The Keys	The Man on the Flying Trapeze	Once I was happy and now I'm forlorn,	Anonymous song from 1949 issue of the Maritime Worker. It appears that this song could have been written by union leader Jack King in Long Bay Prison.

PUBLICATION: SONGS OF THE I.L.P       (Adelaide) Songbook Published Adelaide circa 1915 The International Labour Party was a socialist group that came out of the International Workers of The World, an American labour organization funded by Joe Hill. There was a very active Australian IWW movement and many drifted into the ILP which had essentially the same platform based on 'one big union'. Many of the songs the ILP and IWW sang, and they sang often, were American IWW compositions however localisation was obviously encouraged, as was the composition of original material. Parody was the popular tune vehicle and we find several songs written to the one tune. 'Tramp, Tramp, Tramp' was a popular vehicle as was 'Marching Through Georgia'.
SONG	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
One Big Industrial Union	Marching Through Georgia	The good old red book, boys, we'll sing another song.	By G. Allen.
Where The Parramatta River Flows	Where the River Shannon Flows	Fellow workers pay attention, to what I'm going to mention	The gaoling of twelve ILP/IWW members – they became known as "The Twelve' - became a popular subject for songwriters. The men were gaoled on a pretext and held in Parramatta Gaol for over a year.
Help The Jailed	Wrap Me Up In My Stockwhip & Blanket	At this hour when the plutes are dictators	'plutes' obviously refers to plutocrats
Bump Me Into Parliament	Yankee Doodle	Come listen, all kind friends of mine,	Written by Casey, of the One Big Union League, Melbourne, this is one of the most popular songs from that period. 'Casey' was a prolific songwriter and this version, probably the first printed version, has additional verses to the usual published versions.

PUBLICATION: SONGS OF THE I.L.P      (Sydney) 782.420268 Industrial Labour Party. 117 Bathurst St. Sydney. This appears to be the local IWW and the booklet, songster sized, includes references to the Gang of Twelve (unionists who were put in Parramatta Goal) including Tom Glynn. Songs include usual Joe Hill and IWW songs plus the following local items of Australian composition.
SONG	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
A New Song For The Girl Slaves	There Is A Happy Land	There is a shirt factory over the way	By 'Menzies'
Bump Me Into Parliament	Yankee Doodle	-	see above
Help The Jailed	Wrap Me Up In My Stockwhip & Blanket	At this hour when the plutes are dictators	see above
Where The Parramatta River Flows	Where The River Shannon Flows	Fellow workers pay attention, to what I'm going to mention	see above

PUBLICATION: THE EIGHT HOUR WORKINGMEN'S DEMONSTRATION HOLIDAY SONG BOOK Mitchell Library The following two songs come from a pamphlet published by A W Beard, George Street, Sydney. The dates are unclear but it is very early, possibly around 1880. The leaflet only offered three songs. The third song was a song on behalf of a sewing machine company titled "I Can Mind My Wheel, Mother"
SONG	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
Fair Work for a Fair Day's Pay	Auld Lang Syne," OR " Partant Pour la Syria	Let's raise our voices, loud proclaim,	-
I'm An Eight-Hour Working Man	" Auld Lang Syne," OR "Partant Pour la Syria."	I'm an eight hour working man, hooray !	-

PUBLICATION: INDUSTRIAL SOLIDARITY     (Adelaide) MDQ331.87/2 Adelaide newspaper of the One Big Union movement. The newspaper devotes considerable space to the 'IWW Twelve' The true path to freedom has ever been blazed By the Larkin's, the Connolly's, the Deb's and 'The Twelve' They come, but to tell us if wrongs must be razed The workers must do it, and do it themselves,
SONG	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
The Sundowner	-	He built the road	Nov 1920
The One Big Union	-	Oh, come and join our valiant band	1920 May No 3 By Monty Miller Note: in a future issue the paper mentions Monty Miller (86) as being 'The greatest working class rebel in Australia'

PUBLICATION: INDUSTRIAL SOLIDARITY     (Melbourne)
SONG	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
Threshing Machine	Ta ra ra boom de ay	HI had a job once threshing wheat	July 1919 No 7
Song of the Wheat Lumpers	-	Lump, lump, lump	Nov 1919
Happy Days	When Jesus Washed My Sins Away	Happy day! Happy day!	July 1919

PUBLICATION: SOLIDARITY NEWSPAPER     (Sydney) 1917-1918 Published in Glebe. Newspaper of Industrial Labour Party
SONG	TUNE	FIRST LINE	COMMENT
Will We Wake	-	I've been thinking, fellow members	April 1918 This song, signed 'Jerry Tumble', addresses the Australian Workers Union internal fight where the Union asked the membership to vote on whether it should proceed with direct action or seek arbitration.
The Slaves Doxology	Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow	Praise Boss when morning work-bells chime	1918/June 15 With a note: Written by Bill Casey who also wrote Bump Me Into Parliament.
Bump Me Into Parliament	-	I have been asked what would I do	1918/June 15 including two verses that appear not to have been reproduced in future uses because of their relevance to the era.
Bump Me Into Parliament.	(report)	I have read my Bible through and through,	Interesting report from the Sydney courts where an ILP member was arrested for singing Bump Me Into Parliament.