File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_2000/anarchy-list.0004, message 640


Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 15:14:59 -0500
From: Sandi & Scott Spaeth <vespass-AT-toast.net>
Subject: Re: lyrics, was Re: Star-Spangled Banner


At 04:33 PM 4/22/00 +0000, laurkhi (A) wrote:

>The Internationale
>
>Arise ye starvelings [or workers] from your slumbers
>Arise ye criminals of want
>For reason in revolt now thunders
>and at last ends the age of cant.
>Now away with all your superstitions
>Servile masses arise, arise!
>We'll change forthwith [or henceforth] the old conditions
>And spurn the dust to win the prize.

<snip>

Alternatively to both the above, and Billy Bragg's, there's the old IWW 
version:

Arise, ye prisoners of starvation!
Arise, ye wretched of the Earth,
For justice thunders condemnation,
A better world's in birth.
No more tradition's chains shall bind us,
Arise, ye slaves; no more in thrall!
The Earth shall rise on new foundations,
We have been naught, we shall be all!

Refrain
'Tis the final conflict,
Let each stand in his place,
The Industrial Union
Shall be the human race.


We want no condescending saviors
To rule us from a judgement hall;
We workers ask not for their favors;
Let us consult for all.
To make the thief disgorge his booty
To free the spirit from its cell,
We must ourselves decide our duty,
We must decide and do it well.

Behold them seated in their glory,
The kings of mine and rail and soil!
What have you read in all their story,
But how they plundered toil?
Fruits of the workers' toil are buried
In the strong coffers of a few;
In working for their restitution
The men will only ask their due.


I'm sure there are other English versions out there as well, but with the 
exception of "We have been naught, we shall be all" which is just a great 
line, the Braggster's version is still the most palatable.

cheers,
Scott
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