View source for Cisco Houston: “Preacher and the slave”

[[Songs of the Wobblies |back]]

Cisco Houston: “Preacher and the slave”
(Joe Hill)

Long-haired preachers come out every night,
<br>Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right;
<br>But when asked how 'bout something to eat
<br>They will answer with voices so sweet: 

<br>CHORUS:
<br>You will eat, bye and bye,
<br>In that glorious land above the sky;
<br>Work and pray, live on hay,
<br>You'll get pie in the sky when you die.

<br>The starvation army they play,
<br>They sing and they clap and they pray
<br>'Till they get all your coin on the drum
<br>Then they'll tell you when you're on the bum: 

<br>Holy Rollers and jumpers come out,
<br>They holler, they jump and they shout.
<br>Give your money to Jesus they say,
<br>He will cure all diseases today.
<br>If you fight hard for children and wife --
<br>Try to get something good in this life --
<br>You're a sinner and bad man, they tell,
<br>When you die you will sure go to hell. 

<br>Workingmen of all countries, unite,
<br>Side by side we for freedom will fight;
<br>When the world and its wealth we have gained
<br>To the grafters we'll sing this refrain: 

<br>You will eat, bye and bye,
<br>When you've learned how to cook and to fry.
<br>Chop some wood, 'twill do you good,
<br>And you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye.