Stand up, stand up for Justice! Ye slaves of Besco, stand. Put forth you every effort And break the tyrant’s hand.
Lift high the scarlet banner It must not suffer loss. Throw off your chains, oh workers. Stamp out that cursed word, ‘boss’.
Stand up, stand up for Justice! This strike will not last long. One day, the noise of battle The next the victor’s song.
The great emancipation Of labour now is here. The grand annihilation Of capitalists now appear.
Stand up, stand up for Justice! And break the prisoner’s chain. For in the coming future O’er Besco we shall reign.
Crush all our great oppressors Each coronet and crown Let crash before its master Till labour wins renown
(GO TO IT, BOYS!)
student from Cape Breton
MLH 24 April 1926, p. 2
By KEN CHISHOLM
KEN CHISHOLM – VOCALS AND ACOUSTIC GUITAR
About Ken Chisholm
Sydney native Ken Chisholm began writing songs in junior high inspired by Cape Breton songwriters Leon Dubinsky and Alistair MacGillvray (who taught Chisholm guitar for one year). Several of his songs were featured in various editions of The Cape Breton Summer Time Revue when Dubinsky was musical director. His song, “Company Town”, was featured on both a Fifth Estate television documentary and an award winning CBC-Radio documentary. Chisholm was also featured on the first Load of Wood compilation album. Besides occasional performances as a solo artist, Chisholm, along with Dave Burke, Angelo Spinazzolla, and Lonnie Jones, was part of the roots group, The Vintage Pickers. He also writes plays, fiction, and arts and cultural journalism.
The Ballad of Slim McInnis // The Ballad of Slim McInnis - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
The Ballad of Slim McInnis // The Ballad of Slim McInnis - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Doscomocracy // Doscomocracy - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Trampin’ Down the Highway // Trampin’ Down the Highway - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Quaint Harbour // Quaint Harbour - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Blackheart’s of the Company // Blackheart’s of the Company - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Stand the Gaff // Stand the Gaff - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Michael’s Tune // Michael’s Tune - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Arise Ye Nova Scotia Slaves // Arise Ye Nova Scotia Slaves - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Whatever It Takes // Whatever It Takes - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
The Wearing of the Red // The Wearing of the Red - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Down at Sydney Steel // Sydney Steel - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Stronger then Steel // Stronger then Steel - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Steel Winds // Steel Winds - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
A Cape Breton Lament // A Cape Breton Lament - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
An Seann Tigh Sgoil // An Seann Tigh Sgoil - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Friday Evening // Ian MacDougall - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
The Voice of the Worker // The Voice of the Worker - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Daughters Awake // Daughters Awake - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Cape Breton Miner and Besco // Cape Breton Miner and Besco - Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Miner’s Wife // Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest
Steel Workers Lament // Songs of Steel, Coal and Protest