Anti-Conscription Army Songs [1917]
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SOLIDARITY FOR EVER. By Ralph H. Chaplin (Tune: "John Brown's Body") When the Union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run, There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun. Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one? But the Union makes us strong. --------------------- Chorus: Solidarity for ever ! Solidarity for ever ! Solidarity' for ever ! For the Union makes us strong. Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite, Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might ? Is there anything left for us but to organise and fight ? For the Union makes us strong. It is we who ploughed the prairies, built tbe cities where they trade, Dug the mines and built the workshops ; endless miles of railway laid. Now we stand, outcast and starving, 'mid the wonders we have made ; But the Union makes us strong. All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours, and ours alone. We have laid the wide foundations ; built it skywards stone by stone. It is ours, and not to slave in, but to master and to own While the Union made us strong. They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn, But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn. We can break their haughty power; gain our freedom when we learn That the Union makes us strong. In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold. Greater than the might of armies magnified a thousandfold ; We can bring to birth the new world from the ashes of the old, For the Union makes us strong. |
"NEVER GOES" (Tune-Take it to the Lord in Prayer) Are you tired of fat's aggression ? Of the war do you feel sick ? Would you take a frank suggestion From the boys who're going to kick? All your rulers are designing To compel you fight their foes. If against them you're inclining Come and join the "never goes." Is your backbone made of jelly ? Is your courage in a can ? Has your heart dropped in your belly ? Would you prove you are a man ? When they've passed this conscript binder To augment your many woes, Send them back the sly reminder You have joined the "never goes." If you're not a bally weakling, But a man who has a heart ; If you're not a crawling creeping, Come with us and play your part. All of us are meaning action, We are giving blows for blows; Come and swell this growing faction ; Come and join the "never goes." When they'd sieze us for a soldier, And would force us with their might , We will send them out our bolder, That for them we'll never fight. We are going to stand together, "All for one:" our motto goes; Solidarity for ever-- We're the never, "never goes." BUMP ME INTO PARLIAMENT (Tune: "Yankee Doodle.") Come listen all dear friends of mine, I want to move a motion, To make an Eldorado here I've got a bonzer notion. Chorus: Bump me into Parliament ; Bounce me anyway-ay ; Bung me into Parliament On next Election Day. Some very wealthy pals I know Declare I am most clever ; Where some may talk for an hour or so, Why I can talk for ever. I have the poor man's cause at heart ; I stand for revolutions ; The quickest way to bring them on Is talking "constitutions." I know the Arbitration Act Like a sailor does his riggings. So if you want a small advance I'll talk to justice Higgins. The question's asked--" what would I do If e'er the Germans came here ? A regulation I would make To say they sha'nt remain here. |
BUMP ME INTO PARLIAMENT (Continued) To keep the cost of living down A law I straight would utter ; A hundred loaves for a tray I'd sell ; With a penny a ton for butter. 'Tis said that kids are getting scarce. I think there's something in it. By extra laws I'll incubate A million kids a minute. I've read my bible ten times through. And Jesus justifies me ; The man who does not vote for me. By Christ! he crucifies me. THE BUTTON THAT HE WORE (Tune: "The Wearing of the Green.") I met a working man to-day who wore in his lapel A photo of a plutocrat, and a Union Jack as well. I looked into his toil-worn face, and a simple look it bore. I could tell he was a bonehead by the button that he wore. He asked me how I got along ; I told him pretty tight ; That for a country where men starved I would refuse to fight. He said he stood for Empire, though he could'nt find a job ; He praised the British Navy--and he bummed me for a bob. I asked him many questions then why he was knocked about. his answer it was usual, for he had'nt thought it out. "Thank Cod this Country'a free," he cried, "and the people own the land." But why the copper moved us on he could'nt understand. I told him how the rich grew rich by plundering the poor ; And that for us to organise was the sure and only cure The message I kept driving home his frozen brain did thaw, And now with every one round here he's shouting "Stop the War!" He took the buttons from his coat and flung them to the wind. He made a resolution that he never will rescind. He's pledged to solidarity, and a wiser look he bears; You can tell he is your comrade by the button that he wears. |
Notes
DISSEMINATING "ANTI" LITERATURE.
The Melbourne "Age" writes:--
The flagrant and dishonorable abuse of official
trust to which certain "anti" types will
descend in order to spread their pernicious
gospel is in evidence in a copy of our
latest "Telephone Guide," dated March.
Between the leaves of the book, and bound into the book as a whole with the other official leaves, is a copy of a pamphlet of "anti conscription army songs," dealing with such topics as a "maiden's sacrifice," the "greedy master class," "incubate the kids," and "bump me into Parliament."
It is not known how many leaflets have been distributed in such a manner, but the binding up of this particular leaflet in the guide under review proves almost conclusively that it is the work of an employe or employes in the Government Printing Office, whose low conception of their obligations as public servants makes it highly desirable that their identity should be established and fitting punishment imposed.
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It is very likely that this article from the Melbourne newspaper the
Age of Saturday 13 April 1918, refers to the 'Anti-Conscription Army Songs' song sheet above.
The title of the song sheet is mentioned as well the name of one of its
songs 'Bump Me Into Parliament.' The topics referred to tally well with the song
sheet -- "greedy master class" is close to "greedy parasite" in 'Solidarity Forever.'
and "incubate the kids" refers to the second last verse of 'Bump Me Into
Parliament.' The only missing topic mentioned seems to be 'maiden's sacrifice.'
That the version of 'Bump Me Into Parliament' has three extra verses in the song
sheet compared to other published versions suggests that it was repurposed for the
song sheet which could have been published as early as 1916 for the first WWI
conscription referendum.
This copy of 'The Anti-Conscription Army Songs' was apparently collected in 1918 by W. G.
Spence, a political ally of William Morris Hughes who insisted on the introduction
of conscription while he was prime minister. The fact that the leaflet it was placed
and bound into an early telephone guide dated March 1918 and printed in the
Government Printing Office shows the reach and support that the anti-conscription
movement had in Australia, a reach that was reflected in the no votes in the two
referendums of 1916 and 1917. The soldiers sent overseas in the war were particularly prominent anti-conscription voters.