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.