"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]
| "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 |
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
editThe 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
editThe 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
edit
- "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
edit- ^ 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". 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.