Almanac Singers "Union Maid"
Written by Woody Guthrie




There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks
And the deputy sherriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the Legion boys come 'round,
She always stood her ground.

CHORUS:

Oh you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union.
Oh you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union
'Til the day I die!

(Repeat after each verse)

This union maid was wise
To the tricks of company spies.
She couldn't be fooled by a company stool,
She'd always organize the guys.
She'd always get her way when she struck for better pay.
She'd show her card to the National Guard,
And this is what she'd say:

You gals who want to be free, just take a tip from me.
Get you a man who's a union man
And join the ladies' auxillary.
Married life ain't hard when you've got a union card.
A union man has a happy life
When he's got a union wife.


Written by Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) and also appearing on the Talking Union album, this song is similar to "Talking Union" in describing common problems for union organizers at the time. Some more recent versions of the song have given women a more positive role in both organizing and union activity.

Illustration: Talking Union: 8 Union Songs of the Almanac Singers (New Theatre League, ca. 1941)
 

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