Union Maid
Encyclopedia
"Union Maid" is a union
song written by Woody Guthrie
in response to a request for a union song from a female point of view. Along with "Talking Union", this song was one of the many pro-union songs written by Guthrie during his time as a member of the Almanac Singers
. Another member, Pete Seeger
writes,
The song's final verse, on women's role in unions was written later by Lampell and other Almanac members. It implores ladies to marry a "Union Man" and be a good "Union Wife". In performance, this verse has been adapted over the years to reflect changing attitudes, or dropped altogether. An alternate version, credited to Nancy Katz, appears in the 1973 (34th) and subsequent editions of the IWW
's Little Red Songbook
, and starts, "A woman’s struggle is hard, even with a union card".; another
version in the 1985 song anthology Carry It On! edited by Seeger and Bob Reiser urges women to "Like Mother Jones, bestir them bones".
This song has also been adopted by supporters of the Philadelphia Union, who will sing the chorus of the song outside of and at matches.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
song written by Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
in response to a request for a union song from a female point of view. Along with "Talking Union", this song was one of the many pro-union songs written by Guthrie during his time as a member of the Almanac Singers
Almanac Singers
The Almanac Singers were a group of folk musicians who, as their name indicates, specialized in topical songs, especially songs connected with the labor movement...
. Another member, Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
writes,
"I'm proud to say I was present when 'Union Maid' was written in June, 1940, in the plain little office of the Oklahoma City Communist Party. Bob Wood, local organizer, had asked Woody Guthrie and me to sing there the night before for a small group of striking oil workers. Early next morning, Woody got to the typewriter and hammered out the first two verses of 'Union Maid' set to a European tune that Robert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
arranged for piano ('The Merry Farmer') back in the early 1800s. Of course, it's the chorus that really makes it - its tune, 'Red WingRed Wing (song)"Red Wing" is a popular song written in 1907 with music by Kerry Mills and lyrics by Thurland Chattaway. Mills adapted the music from Robert Schumann's composition for piano "The Happy Farmer, Returning From Work" from his 1848 work Album for the Young, Opus 68. The song tells of a young Indian...
,' was copyrighted early in the 1900s."
The song's final verse, on women's role in unions was written later by Lampell and other Almanac members. It implores ladies to marry a "Union Man" and be a good "Union Wife". In performance, this verse has been adapted over the years to reflect changing attitudes, or dropped altogether. An alternate version, credited to Nancy Katz, appears in the 1973 (34th) and subsequent editions of the IWW
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
's Little Red Songbook
Little Red Songbook
thumb|180px|right|The Little Red SongbookSince the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the IWW, songs have played a big part in spreading the message of the One Big Union...
, and starts, "A woman’s struggle is hard, even with a union card".; another
version in the 1985 song anthology Carry It On! edited by Seeger and Bob Reiser urges women to "Like Mother Jones, bestir them bones".
This song has also been adopted by supporters of the Philadelphia Union, who will sing the chorus of the song outside of and at matches.
Recordings
- Almanac SingersAlmanac SingersThe Almanac Singers were a group of folk musicians who, as their name indicates, specialized in topical songs, especially songs connected with the labor movement...
on Talking UnionTalking Union & Other Union SongsTalking Union is a 1941 album by the Almanac Singers: Millard Lampell, Lee Hays and Pete Seeger. It was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically... - Pete SeegerPete SeegerPeter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
on If I Had a Hammer - Old Crow Medicine ShowOld Crow Medicine ShowOld Crow Medicine Show is an old-time string band based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their music has been called bluegrass, Americana, and alt-country, in addition to old-time. Along with original songs, the band performs many pre-World War II blues and folk songs...
on Big Iron WorldBig Iron WorldBig Iron World is an album by folk/country/old timey band Old Crow Medicine Show, released on August 29, 2006. The album was produced by David Rawlings who is most famously known for being Gillian Welch's musical partner... - Julie FelixJulie FelixJulie Ann Felix is a folk rock recording artist, who was notably produced by Mickie Most on his RAK Records label.-Career:...
on The Frost ReportThe Frost ReportThe Frost Report was a satirical television show hosted by David Frost. It ran for 29 episodes from 1966 to 1967. It is most notable for introducing John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett to television and also launching the careers of several comedians and performers.The main cast were... - Bill CollinsBill CollinsBill Collins or Billy Collins may refer to:* Bill Collins , Masters athletics world record sprinter* Bill Collins , American baseball player...
on New Hard Times - Stormy SixStormy SixStormy Six were an Italian progressive and folk rock band founded in Milan in 1966. They performed and recorded until 1983, mostly as a sextet but occasionally as a quartet, a quintet and a septet. Although their line-up changed considerably over the years, founding member Franco Fabbri remained...
on Guarda Giú Dalla Pianura