Chants for Socialists (1894)

  1. The Idler
    The Idler
    My favourite one

    No Master

    Saith man to man, We've heard and known
    That we no master need
    To live upon this earth, our own,
    In fair and manly deed.
    The grief of slaves long passed away
    For us hath forged the chain,
    Till now each worker's patient day
    Builds up the House of Pain.

    And we, shall we too, crouch and quail,
    Ashamed, afraid of strife,
    And lest our lives untimely fail
    Embrace the Death in Life?
    Nay, cry aloud, and have no fear,
    We few against the world;
    Awake, arise! the hope we bear
    Against the curse is hurled.

    It grows and grows--are we the same,
    The feeble band, the few?
    Or what are these with eyes aflame,
    And hands to deal and do?
    This is the host that bears the word,
    No MASTER HIGH OR LOW -
    A lightning flame, a shearing sword,
    A storm to overthrow.
  2. The Idler
    The Idler
    These have been released on CD here
    http://hefnet.com/chants-for-socialists-darren-hayman/