This song is inspired by the Haymarket Affair that took place on May 4th, 1886, where over 100 workers were killed, over 70 were injured and 4 killed by police gunfire and a bomb that went off and during a peaceful protest for the 8 hour workday. This incident is considered the climax of social unrest among the working class known as "the great upheaval." It is also considered the origin for International Workers Day, or May Day- which is celebrated on May 1st.
I woke up on May 1st of 2020, elbow deep in a global pandemic, pissed at my fast food job who would do nothing for us workers. Around this time me and some coworkers were also trying to unionize our store, but that fell through... nonetheless I digress... May 1st was one of my days off. I was in a hyper-revolutionary mood already because of a local rent strike that me and some other folks attempted to organize (which also fell through...), and I opened up Twitter and was reminded what that day was, and was suddenly reminded of the atrocities that happened 114 years prior. I felt a spark of inspiration that I have never felt before, and I wrote and recorded "May Day" and "Burn it Down" in about 45 minutes.
One day I hope to re-record and release this proper, maybe on a future May Day. Until then, I hope y'all enjoy my little tunes :)
lyrics
Chords:
G C G D repeats every line, end on a G for the very last line in the last chorus :) If you learn to play this I'd love to hear it!!
Lyrics:
Gather round all ya workers and sing this song with me
we sing a song of hope of freedom from wage slavery
weather it be in fast food or service or a factory
we give our blood sweat and tears to the bourgeoisie
But workers blood, should stay with the worker
and workers sweat, it always flows
and workers tears, should never be shed
for the work that we do this world is our own
Gather round all ya workers, join with each other today
Today is our day, the first day of May
Our comrades of the past fought, for fair hours eight
and out comrades of the past with their blood they paid
But workers blood, should stay with the worker
and workers sweat, it always flows
and workers tears, should never be shed
for the work that we do this world is our own
Gather round all ya workers, the bosses aren't your friend
They'd kill us for profit again and again
so to keep on living, we will join hand in hand
to never let another comrade meet an unfair end
Because workers blood, should stay with the worker
and workers sweat, it always flows
and workers tears, should never be shed
for the work that we do this world is our own
Gather round all ya workers, and celebrate today
We will keep on fighting against the bosses sin
We have nothing to lose but our chains
and we have the whole world to win
and workers blood, should stay with the worker
and workers sweat, it always flows
and workers tears, should never be shed
for the work that we do this world is our own
credits
from May Day / Burn It Down,
released May 1, 2020
Lyrics: Jacob W. Fowler
Vocals: Jacob W. Fowler
Guitar: Jacob W. Fowler
Recorded on my phone before I had any fancy recording and editing gear :)
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