The Big Red Songbook: 250+ IWW Songs! (The Charles H. Kerr Library)
Description
In 1905, representatives from dozens of radical labor groups came together in Chicago to form One Big Union—the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), known as the Wobblies. The union was a big presence in the labor movement and everywhere its members went, they sang. In The Big Red Songbook, the editors have gathered songs, rare artwork, personal recollections, discographies, and more into one big all-embracing book. In addition to the 250+ songs, writings are included from Archie Green, Franklin Rosemont, David Roediger, Salvatore Salerno, Judy Branfman, Richard Brazier, James Connell, Carlos Cortez, Bill Friedland, Virginia Martin, Harry McClintock, Fred Thompson, Adam Machado, and many more.
Praise for The Big Red Songbook: 250+ IWW Songs! (The Charles H. Kerr Library)
“This engaging anthology features the lyrics to 250 or so Wobbly songs, rich with references to job sharks, shovel stiffs, capitalist tools, and plutocratic parasites. Wobbly wordsmiths such as the fabled Joe Hill, T-Bone Slim, Haywire Mac, and Richard Brazier set their fighting words to popular tunes of the day, gospel hymns, old ballads and patriotic anthems.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“This collection, the last major work both of the late ‘laborlorist’ Archie Green and of the late surrealist poet and labor publisher Franklin Rosemont, should be of great value to folklorists, activists, and singers alike.” —Journal of American Folklore
“In The Big Red Songbook, the editors have thoughtfully documented twentieth-century Wobbly song in all of its foot-stompin’ glory.” —International Labor and Working-Class History
"No labor history collection should be without this definitive collection, which is also recommended for any collection strong in American music history." —Diane C. Donovan, donovansliteraryservices.com