George Mann - They All Sang Bread & Roses

They All Sang Bread and Roses
(Performed by George Mann)


Now don’t you think it’s crazy
This old world and its ways
Whoever thought the ‘60s
Would be called “the good old days”
But like the Weavers sang to us
Wasn’t that a time
When we raised our hands and voices
On the line

And we all sang “Bread and Roses”
“Joe Hill” and “Union Maid
We linked our arms and told each other
We are not afraid
“Solidarity Forever”
Would go rolling through the hall
“We Shall Overcome” together
One and all

The more I study history
The more I seem to find
That in every generation
There were times just like that time
When folks like you and me
Who thought that they were all alone
Within this honored Movement
Found a home

And they all sang “Bread and Roses”
“Joe Hill” and “Union Maid”
They linked their arms and told each other
We are not afraid
“Solidarity Forever”
Would go rolling through the hall
“We Shall Overcome” together
One and all

Though each generation
Fears that it may be the last
Our presence here is witness
To the power of the past
Just as we have drawn our strength
From those who now are gone
Younger hands will take our work
And carry on

And they’ll all sing “Bread and Roses”
“Joe Hill” and “Union Maid”
They’ll link their arms and tell each other
We are not afraid
“Solidarity Forever”
Will go rolling through the hall
“We Shall Overcome” together
One and all

“We Shall Overcome” together
One and all