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"The Preacher and the Slave"
In this motivational song, Hill ostensibly mocks the Salvation Army's preachers, who offer solace for suffering only to those who wait patiently, rather than fighting for relief.
Listen to a RealAudio file of "The Preacher and the Slave" performed by a contemporary folksinger, Utah Phillips (Courtesy: Rounder Records Corp.)
To listen to this RealAudio file, download a free version of RealPlayer.
Lyrics:
Long haired preachers come out ev'ry night,
Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right;
But when asked, how 'bout something to eat, (Let us eat)
They will answer with voices so sweet; (Oh so sweet)
You will eat, (You will eat)
Bye and bye, (Bye and bye) in that glorious land above the sky;
(way up high)
work and pray, (work and pray) live on hay, (Live on hay)
you'll get pie in the sky when you die. (That's a lie)
And the starvation army they play,
And they sing and they clap and they pray.
Till they get all your coin on the drum,
Then they'll tell you when you're on the bum:
-Chorus-
Holy Rollers and Jumpers come out,
And they holler, they jump and they shout
"Give your money to Jesus," they say,
"He will cure all diseases today."
-Chorus-
If you fight hard for children and wife-
Try to get something good in this life-
You're a sinner and bad man, they tell,
When you die you will sure go to hell.
-Chorus-
Workingmen of all countries unite,
Side by side we for freedom will fight!
When the world and its wealth we have gained,
To the grafters we'll sing this refrain:
-Final Chorus-
You will eat, bye and bye,
When you've learned how to cook and to fry.
Chop some wood, 'twill do you good,
And you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye.
"The Preacher and the Slave" was written by Joe Hill.
About the Program || Joe Hill Home || PBS Home
