| "There Is Power in a Union" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Billy Bragg | |
| from the album Talking with the Taxman About Poetry | |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1986 |
| Studio | Livingston Studios, Wood Green, London |
| Length | 2:48 |
| Composer(s) | George Frederick Root |
| Lyricist(s) | Billy Bragg |
| Producer(s) | Kenny Jones, John Porter |
"There Is Power in a Union" is a song written by Billy Bragg and first released on his 1986 Talking with the Taxman About Poetry album. It is set to the tune of George Frederick Root's " Battle Cry of Freedom". [1]
It has become known as an anthem of the trade union movement, [2] [3] and has been played live by Bragg both as part of concert sets [4] [5] and on trade union picket lines. [6] It has also featured prominently in films, including as the finale of 2014's Pride. [7]
It shares its title with an otherwise unrelated 1913 song by Joe Hill.
Release history
The song was first released on Bragg's 1986 Talking with the Taxman About Poetry album. [8]
He re-recorded the song with The Pattersons for his 1988 EP Help Save the Youth of America (Live and Dubious). [9]
Versions of the song feature on Bragg compilations Victim of Geography, Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg and Volume 1, and live recordings Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 – 2019, and Live at the Union Chapel, London. [10] In 2023 it was selected as one of 40 tracks from his career to appear on the "Roaring Forty" retrospective box set. [11]
The song has been covered by punk band Street Dogs (with altered lyrics) on their album Fading American Dream, [12] and by the GC5 on their 2002 Singles Collection (1997–2000). [13]
Use in other media
The song is featured in the 2004 film Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train in which American Communist organizations march in Times Square. [14]
The song is featured prominently as the finale to the 2014 film Pride, about London organization Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners support for striking miners of a Welsh pit village during the UK miners' strike (1984–85). [7] [15]
US band Dropkick Murphys play the song immediately before their performances. [16]
Further reading
- "Re-Signing Mass Culture: Billy Bragg's 'There is Power in a Union'", by Timothy D. Taylor, in Popular Music and Society, volume 15, issue 2, 1992 [17]
References
- ^ Bragg, Billy (2015). A Lover Sings: Selected Lyrics. Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-32861-1.
- ^ C.C. (9 December 2019). "Watch Billy Bragg Play 'There Is Power In A Union'". Under the Radar.
- ^ Leonard, Charles (12 April 2019). "Political Songs | Power in a union – Billy Bragg". New Frame.
- ^ Spithray, Steve (3 December 2022). "Live Review: Paul Heaton, Billy Bragg @ The Globe, Stockton". NARC Magazine.
- ^ Shepherd, Fiona (29 July 2022). "Music review: Billy Bragg, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow". The Scotsman.
- ^ Ford, Lily (1 February 2023). "Billy Bragg performs There Is Power In A Union at Dorset school picket line". the Independent.
- ^ a b Carleton, Sean (6 May 2015). "There is Power in a Union: Pride". Canadian Dimension.
- ^ "Billy Bragg - Talking With The Taxman About Poetry". Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Fuller, Levi (26 June 2018). "Review Revue: Billy Bragg - Help Save the Youth of America (Live and Dubious)". KEXP.
- ^ "Music". Billy Bragg.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (28 February 2023). "Billy Bragg to celebrate 40 years of music with massive new box set". NME.
- ^ Newton, Elizabeth (25 October 2006). "Street Dogs: Fading American Dream". PopMatters.
- ^ Sanchez, George B (2002). "the GC5 - Singles Collection (1997-2000), CD". Punk Planet. No. 50.
- ^ "Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (2004) - Soundtracks - IMDb".
- ^ "Pride Soundtrack". Universal Music Operations Limited. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ Euhlein, Joe (2001). "An Overture into the Future: The Music of Social Justice". New Labor Forum (Fall/Winter 2001).
- ^ Taylor, Timothy D. (1991). "Re‐signing Mass Culture: Billy Bragg's "There is Power in a Union"". Popular Music and Society. 15 (2). Taylor & Francis: 33–48. doi: 10.1080/03007769108591433.
| "There Is Power in a Union" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Billy Bragg | |
| from the album Talking with the Taxman About Poetry | |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1986 |
| Studio | Livingston Studios, Wood Green, London |
| Length | 2:48 |
| Composer(s) | George Frederick Root |
| Lyricist(s) | Billy Bragg |
| Producer(s) | Kenny Jones, John Porter |
"There Is Power in a Union" is a song written by Billy Bragg and first released on his 1986 Talking with the Taxman About Poetry album. It is set to the tune of George Frederick Root's " Battle Cry of Freedom". [1]
It has become known as an anthem of the trade union movement, [2] [3] and has been played live by Bragg both as part of concert sets [4] [5] and on trade union picket lines. [6] It has also featured prominently in films, including as the finale of 2014's Pride. [7]
It shares its title with an otherwise unrelated 1913 song by Joe Hill.
Release history
The song was first released on Bragg's 1986 Talking with the Taxman About Poetry album. [8]
He re-recorded the song with The Pattersons for his 1988 EP Help Save the Youth of America (Live and Dubious). [9]
Versions of the song feature on Bragg compilations Victim of Geography, Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg and Volume 1, and live recordings Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 – 2019, and Live at the Union Chapel, London. [10] In 2023 it was selected as one of 40 tracks from his career to appear on the "Roaring Forty" retrospective box set. [11]
The song has been covered by punk band Street Dogs (with altered lyrics) on their album Fading American Dream, [12] and by the GC5 on their 2002 Singles Collection (1997–2000). [13]
Use in other media
The song is featured in the 2004 film Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train in which American Communist organizations march in Times Square. [14]
The song is featured prominently as the finale to the 2014 film Pride, about London organization Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners support for striking miners of a Welsh pit village during the UK miners' strike (1984–85). [7] [15]
US band Dropkick Murphys play the song immediately before their performances. [16]
Further reading
- "Re-Signing Mass Culture: Billy Bragg's 'There is Power in a Union'", by Timothy D. Taylor, in Popular Music and Society, volume 15, issue 2, 1992 [17]
References
- ^ Bragg, Billy (2015). A Lover Sings: Selected Lyrics. Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-32861-1.
- ^ C.C. (9 December 2019). "Watch Billy Bragg Play 'There Is Power In A Union'". Under the Radar.
- ^ Leonard, Charles (12 April 2019). "Political Songs | Power in a union – Billy Bragg". New Frame.
- ^ Spithray, Steve (3 December 2022). "Live Review: Paul Heaton, Billy Bragg @ The Globe, Stockton". NARC Magazine.
- ^ Shepherd, Fiona (29 July 2022). "Music review: Billy Bragg, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow". The Scotsman.
- ^ Ford, Lily (1 February 2023). "Billy Bragg performs There Is Power In A Union at Dorset school picket line". the Independent.
- ^ a b Carleton, Sean (6 May 2015). "There is Power in a Union: Pride". Canadian Dimension.
- ^ "Billy Bragg - Talking With The Taxman About Poetry". Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Fuller, Levi (26 June 2018). "Review Revue: Billy Bragg - Help Save the Youth of America (Live and Dubious)". KEXP.
- ^ "Music". Billy Bragg.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (28 February 2023). "Billy Bragg to celebrate 40 years of music with massive new box set". NME.
- ^ Newton, Elizabeth (25 October 2006). "Street Dogs: Fading American Dream". PopMatters.
- ^ Sanchez, George B (2002). "the GC5 - Singles Collection (1997-2000), CD". Punk Planet. No. 50.
- ^ "Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (2004) - Soundtracks - IMDb".
- ^ "Pride Soundtrack". Universal Music Operations Limited. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ Euhlein, Joe (2001). "An Overture into the Future: The Music of Social Justice". New Labor Forum (Fall/Winter 2001).
- ^ Taylor, Timothy D. (1991). "Re‐signing Mass Culture: Billy Bragg's "There is Power in a Union"". Popular Music and Society. 15 (2). Taylor & Francis: 33–48. doi: 10.1080/03007769108591433.