Stick to the Union, Boys (1901)
Stick to the Union, Boys, to it be ever true,
The brightest, noblest heritage our Fathers left behind.
It stood to them in ages past, to-day it stands to you--
A bulwark 'gainst the tyrants and oppressors of mankind.
'Twas Union won the Eight Hours Day, the Eight Hours Rest, and Eight Hours Play,
The hope, the leisure, and relief implored so oft before,
'Tis here alone you'll learn the skill that wins eight bob a day,
And drives alike the sweater and the wolf from Labour's door.
Stick to the Union, Boys, to it be ever true,
They'll fear you and respect you when the Union's firm and strong,
They will quickly dock your wages if the Union's falling through.
So stick to the Union, Boys, and bring your mates along.
Stick to the Union, Boys, it gives the higher life,
The decent wage, and Labour, the decent home we prize ;
It gives the gown and bonnet to the toiler's thrifty wife,
And brings the dimples to her cheeks, the lovelight to her eyes ;
It gives, the children time to grow, their bones to set, their minds to know
The path in life that suits them best, ere they embark in toil.
How different Union life unto the life of want and care and woe,
That absence of the Union gives the Serf upon the soil.
Stick to the Union, Boys, to it be ever true,
They'll fear you and respect you when the Union's firm and strong,
They'll quickly dock your wages if the Union's falling through,
So stick to the Union, Boys, and bring your mates along.
Stick to the Union, Boys, for fair Democracy, !
For it is the brightest , star that gleams on Freedom's holy shrine,
The hope of struggling masses in the lands across the sea
And in the evil days of toil a sanctuary divine.
Let cowards shrink, as cowards must--in Union, Boys, we'll put our trust,
And reap, or let our children reap,the grain we sow to-day,
Till from the Murray to the sea our hosts will rise and raise the dust,
Till every man who works forbread receives his proper pay,
Stick to the Union, Boys, to itbe ever true,
They'll fear you and respect youwhen the Union's firm and strong,
They'll quickly dock your wages if the Union's falling through.
So stick to the Union, Boys, and bring your mates along.
--LASSALLEITE.
Notes
From the Melbourne Journal the Tocsin Thursday 3 January 1901 p. 2.
This song was also published in the Brisbane Newspaper the Worker Saturday 9 December 1905 p. 5.