The Ballad Of Harry Bridges
Let me tell you of a sailor, Harry Bridges is his name,
An honest union leader whom the bosses tried to frame,
He left home in Australia, to sail the seas around,
He sailed across the ocean to land in Frisco town.
There was only a company union, the bosses had their way.
A worker had to stand in line for a lousy dollar a day.
When up spoke Harry Bridges, "Us workers got to get wise.
Our wives and kids will starve to death if we don't get organized."
[Chorus] (AFTER MOST OR ALL VERSES):
Oh, the FBI is worried, the bosses they are scared
They can't deport six million men they know.
And we're not going to let them send Harry over the seas.
We'll fight for Harry Bridges and build the CIO.
They built a big bonfire by the Matson Line that night.
They threw their fink books in it and they said we're going to fight.
You've got to pay a living wage or we're going to take a walk.
They told it to the bosses but the bosses wouldn't talk.
They said there's only one way left to get that contract signed.
And all around the waterfront they threw their picket line.
They called it Bloody Thursday, the fifth day of July,
Four hundred men were wounded and two were left to die.
Now that was seven years ago and in the time since then
Harry's organized thousands more and made them union men.
"We must try to bribe him," the shipping bosses said,
"And if he won't accept the bribe, we'll say that he's a red."
The bosses brought a trial to deport him over the seas,
But the judge said, "He's a honest man, I got to set him free,"
Then they brought another trial to frame him if they can.
But right by Harry Bridges stands every working man.
La Balada de Harry Bridges
Déjame contarte sobre un marinero, Harry Bridges es su nombre,
Un líder sindical honesto a quien los jefes intentaron incriminar,
Dejó su hogar en Australia, para navegar por los mares,
Navegó a través del océano para llegar a la ciudad de Frisco.
Solo existía un sindicato de empresa, los jefes tenían el control,
Un trabajador debía hacer fila por un miserable dólar al día,
Cuando Harry Bridges habló, 'Nosotros, los trabajadores, debemos ser astutos,
Nuestras esposas e hijos morirán de hambre si no nos organizamos.'
[Estribillo] (DESPUÉS DE LA MAYORÍA O TODOS LOS VERSOS):
Oh, el FBI está preocupado, los jefes están asustados,
No pueden deportar a seis millones de hombres que saben.
Y no vamos a dejar que envíen a Harry por sobre el mar,
Lucharemos por Harry Bridges y construiremos el CIO.
Encendieron una gran fogata junto a la Línea Matson esa noche,
Arrojaron sus libros de delatores y dijeron que íbamos a luchar,
Deben pagar un salario digno o nos iremos,
Se lo dijeron a los jefes pero los jefes no quisieron hablar.
Dijeron que solo quedaba una forma de firmar ese contrato,
Y en todo el puerto arrojaron su piquete.
Lo llamaron Jueves Sangriento, el quinto día de julio,
Cuatrocientos hombres resultaron heridos y dos quedaron para morir.
Eso fue hace siete años y desde entonces,
Harry ha organizado a miles más y los ha convertido en hombres sindicales.
'Debemos intentar sobornarlo,' dijeron los jefes navieros,
'Y si no acepta el soborno, diremos que es un rojo.'
Los jefes llevaron un juicio para deportarlo por sobre el mar,
Pero el juez dijo, 'Es un hombre honesto, debo liberarlo,'
Luego trajeron otro juicio para incriminarlo si podían,
Pero cada trabajador está junto a Harry Bridges.