The Uprising of the Twenty Thousands

song: The Uprising of the Twenty Thousands

(Dedicated to the Waistmakers of 1909)

In the black of the winter of nineteen nine,
When we froze and bled on the picket line,
We showed the world that women could fight
And we rose and won with women's might.

Hail the waistmakers of nineteen nine,
Making their stand on the picket line,
Breaking the power of those who reign,
Pointing the way, smashing the chain.

And we gave new courage to the men
Who carried on in nineteen ten
And shoulder to shoulder we'll win through,
Led by the I.L.G.W.U.

- from Let's Sing! Educational Department, International
Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, New York City, n.d.