1000 YEARS

WE HAVE FED YOU ALL FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

 - by an Unknown Proletariat  (1905)

WE HAVE FED YOU ALL FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

AND YOU HAIL US STILL UNFED

NEVER A DOLLAR OF ALL YOUR WEALTH

MARKS THE WORKERS DEAD

WE HAVE YIELDED OUR BEST

TO GIVE YOU REST

AND YOU LIE ON CRIMSON WOOL

IF THAT BE THE PRICE OF YOUR CURSED WEALTH

GOOD GOD, WE HAVE PAID IN FULL

THERE IS NEVER A MINE BLOWN SKYWARD NOW

THAT WE AREN'T BURIED ALIVE FOR YOU

NEVER A WRECK DRIFT SHOREWARD NOW

WE AREN'T IT'S GHASTLY CREW

GO SUFFER OUR DEAD BY THE FORGES RED

AND THE FACTORIES WHERE WE SPIN

IF THAT BE THE PRICE OF YOUR CURSED WEALTH

GOOD GOD, WE HAVE PAID IT IN

WE HAVE FED YOU ALL FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

FOR THAT WAS OUR DOOM YOU KNOW

FROM THE DAY YOU CHAINED US IN YOUR FIELD

TO A STRIKE OF A WEEK AGO

YOU'VE TAKEN LIVES, OUR CHILDREN AND WIVES

AND CALLED IT YOUR LEGAL SHARE

IF THAT BE THE PRICE OF YOUR CURSED WEALTH

GOOD GOD, WE HAVE BOUGHT IT FAIR