Written by Joe Hill and set to the music of the gospel hymn "There is Power in the Blood," this song appeared in the fifth edition of the IWW songbook. The song was sung on IWW picket lines where workers (many of them for the first time) felt the strength of collective action and were moved by the camaraderie of their fellow workers.

"There Is Power In A Union," by the Entertainment Workers IU 630, I.W.W. from 'Rebel Voices: Songs of the Industrial Workers of the World,' Flying Fish Records. Provided courtesy of the Industrial Workers of the World. © 1993.

THERE IS POWER IN A UNION

By Joe Hill

(Tune: "There Is Power in the Blood")

Would you have freedom from wage slavery,
Then join in the grand Industrial band;
Would you from mis'ry and hunger be free,
Then come! Do your share, like a man.

CHORUS
There is pow'r, there is pow'r
In a band of workingmen,
When they stand hand in hand,
That's a pow'r, that's a pow'r
That must rule in every land-
One Industrial Union Grand.

Would you have mansions of gold in the sky,
And live in a shack, way in the back?
Would you have wings up in heaven to fly,
And starve here with rags on your back?

If you've had "nuff" of "the blood of the lamb"
Then join in the grand Industrial band;
If, for a change, you would have eggs and ham,
Then come, do your share, like a man.

If you like sluggers to beat off your head,
Then don't organize, all unions despise,
if you want nothing before you are dead,
Shake hands with your boss and look wise.

Come, all ye workers, from every land,
Come, join in the grand Industrial band,
Then we our share of this earth shall demand.
Come on! Do your share, like a man.