Working Class-Heroes A History of Struggle in Song: A Songbook

Description

Working-Class Heroes is an organic melding of history, music, and politics
that demonstrates with colorful evidence that workers everywhere will
struggle to improve their conditions of life. And among them will be
workers who share an insight: in order to better our lot, we must act
collectively to change the world. This profusely illustrated treasury of
song sheets, lyrics, photographs, histories, and biographical sketches
explores the notion that our best hope lies in the capacity of ordinary
working people to awaken to the need to emancipate ourselves and all of
humanity. Featuring over a dozen songwriters, from Joe Hill to Aunt Molly
Jackson, Working-Class Heroes delivers a lyrical deathblow to the myth that
so-called political songs of the Twentieth Century were being written by
intellectuals and outside agitators in New York. The songs collected here
have a striking relevance to current affairs and invite us to explore the
historical conditions that inspired their creation: systemic crisis,
advancing fascism, and the threat of world war. In the face of violent
terror, these working-class songwriters stood up to fight oppression. Such
courage and heroism is immortal, such heroes should be celebrated and their
songs can still lift our spirits, if we sing them today. Heroes featured in
this collection: Sarah Ogan Gunning, Ralph Chaplin, Woody Guthrie, Ella May
Wiggins, Joe Hill, Paul Robeson, John Handcox, Aunt Molly Jackson, Jim
Garland, Alfred Hayes, and Joseph Brandon.