ChantsforSocialistsTheDayisComingTheVoiceofToilNoMasterAllfortheCauseTheMarchoftheWorkersDownAmongtheDeadMenADeathSongMayDay[1892]
MayDay,1894
TheMessageoftheMarchWindTHEDAYISCOMING
Comehither,lads,andhearken,foratalethereistotell,Ofthewonderfuldaysa—coming,whenallshallbebetterthanwell.
Andthetaleshallbetoldofacountry,alandinthemidstofthesea,AndfolkshallcallitEnglandinthedaysthataregoingtobe.
TheremorethanoneinathousandinthedaysthatareyettocomeShallhavesomehopeofthemorrow,somejoyoftheancienthome.
Forthen——laughnot,butlistentothisstrangetaleofmine—
AllfolkthatareinEnglandshallbebetterlodgedthanswine.
Thenamanshallworkandbethinkhim,andrejoiceinthedeedsofhishand,Noryetcomehomeintheeventoofaintandwearytostand.
Meninthattimea—comingshallworkandhavenofearForto—morrow\'slackofearningandthehunger—wolfanear.
Itellyouthisforawonder,thatnomanthenshallbegladOfhisfellow\'sfallandmishaptosnatchattheworkhehad.
Forthatwhichtheworkerwinnethshallthenbehisindeed,Norshallhalfbereapedfornothingbyhimthatsowednoseed.
Ostrangenewwonderfuljustice!Butforwhomshallwegatherthegain?
Forourselvesandforeachofourfellows,andnohandshalllabourinvain.
ThenallMineandallThineshallbeOurs,andnomoreshallanymancraveForrichesthatservefornothingbuttofetterafriendforaslave.
AndwhatwealththenshallbeleftuswhennoneshallgathergoldTobuyhisfriendinthemarket,andpinchandpinethesold?
Nay,whatsavethelovelycity,andthelittlehouseonthehill,Andthewastesandthewoodlandbeauty,andthehappyfieldswetill;
Andthehomesofancientstories,thetombsofthemightydead;
Andthewisemenseekingoutmarvels,andthepoet\'steeminghead;
Andthepainter\'shandofwonder;andthemarvellousfiddle—bow,Andthebandedchoirsofmusic:allthosethatdoandknow.
Foralltheseshallbeoursandallmen\'s,norshallanylackashareOfthetoilandthegainoflivinginthedayswhentheworldgrowsfair.
Ah!sucharethedaysthatshallbe!Butwhatarethedeedsofto—day,Inthedaysoftheyearswedwellin,thatwearourlivesaway?
Why,then,andforwhatarewewaiting?Therearethreewordstospeak:
WEWILLIT,andwhatisthefoemanbutthedream—strongwakenedandweak?
Owhyandforwhatarewewaiting?Whileourbrothersdroopanddie,Andoneverywindoftheheavensawastedlifegoesby.
Howlongshalltheyreproachuswherecrowdoncrowdtheydwell,Poorghostsofthewickedcity,thegold—crushedhungryhell?
Throughsqualidlifetheylaboured,insordidgrieftheydied,Thosesonsofamightymother,thosepropsofEngland\'spride.
Theyaregone;thereisnonecanundoit,norsaveoursoulsfromthecurse;
Butmanyamillioncometh,andshalltheybebetterorworse?
Itiswemustanswerandhasten,andopenwidethedoorFortherichman\'shurryingterror,andtheslow—foothopeofthepoor.
Yea,thevoicelesswrathofthewretched,andtheirunlearneddiscontent,Wemustgiveitvoiceandwisdomtillthewaiting—tidebespent.
Come,then,sinceallthingscallus,thelivingandthedead,Ando\'erthewelteringtangleaglimmeringlightisshed.
Come,then,letuscastofffooling,andputbyeaseandrest,FortheCAUSEaloneisworthytillthegooddaysbringthebest.
Come,joinintheonlybattlewhereinnomancanfail,Wherewhosofadethanddieth,yethisdeedshallstillprevail.
Ah!come,castoffallfooling,forthis,atleast,weknow:
ThattheDawnandtheDayiscoming,andforththeBannersgo.
THEVOICEOFTOIL
Iheardmensaying,Leavehopeandpraying,Alldaysshallbeasallhavebeen;
To—dayandto—morrowbringfearandsorrow,Thenever—endingtoilbetween.
WhenEarthwasyoungermidtoilandhunger,Inhopewestrove,andourhandswerestrong;
Thengreatmenledus,withwordstheyfedus,Andbadeusrighttheearthlywrong.
Goreadinstorytheirdeedsandglory,Theirnamesamidstthenamelessdead;
Turnthenfromlyingtousslow—dyingInthatgoodworldtowhichtheyled;
Wherefastandfasterourironmaster,Thethingwemade,foreverdrives,BidsusgrindtreasureandfashionpleasureForotherhopesandotherlives.
Wherehomeisahovelanddullwegrovel,Forgettingthattheworldisfair;
Wherenobabewecherish,lestitsverysoulperish;
Whereourmirthiscrime,ourloveasnare.
Whonowshallleadus,whatgodshallheedusAswelieinthehellourhandshavewon?
Forusarenorulersbutfoolsandbefoolers,Thegreatarefallen,thewisemengone.
Iheardmensaying,Leavetearsandpraying,Thesharpknifeheedethnotthesheep;
Arewenotstrongerthantherichandthewronger,Whendaybreaksoverdreamsandsleep?
Come,shouldertoshouldereretheworldgrowsolder!
Helpliesinnoughtbuttheeandme;
Hopeisbeforeus,thelongyearsthatboreusBoreleadersmorethanmenmaybe.
Letdeadheartstarryandtradeandmarry,Andtremblingnursetheirdreamsofmirth,WhilewethelivingourlivesaregivingTobringthebrightnewworldtobirth.
Come,shouldertoshoulderereearthgrowsolderTheCausespreadsoverlandandsea;
Nowtheworldshaketh,andfearawakethAndjoyatlastfortheeandme.
NOMASTER
Saithmantoman,We\'veheardandknownThatwenomasterneedToliveuponthisearth,ourown,Infairandmanlydeed.
ThegriefofslaveslongpassedawayForushathforgedthechain,Tillnoweachworker\'spatientdayBuildsuptheHouseofPain.
Andwe,shallwetoo,crouchandquail,Ashamed,afraidofstrife,AndlestourlivesuntimelyfailEmbracetheDeathinLife?
Nay,cryaloud,andhavenofear,Wefewagainsttheworld;
Awake,arise!thehopewebearAgainstthecurseishurled.
Itgrowsandgrows——arewethesame,Thefeebleband,thefew?
Orwhatarethesewitheyesaflame,Andhandstodealanddo?
Thisisthehostthatbearstheword,NoMASTERHIGHORLOW
Alightningflame,ashearingsword,Astormtooverthrow.