Solidarity Forever - Modern Additions

Modern Additions

Since the 1970s women have added verses to "Solidarity Forever" to reflect their concerns as union members. One popular set of stanzas is:

We're the women of the union and we sure know how to fight.

We'll fight for women's issues and we'll fight for women's rights.

A woman's work is never done from morning until night.

Women make the union strong!

(Chorus)

It is we who wash dishes, scrub the floors and clean the dirt,

Feed the kids and send them off to school - and then we go to work,

Where we work for half men's wages for a boss who likes to flirt.

But the union makes us strong!

(Chorus)

A variation from Canada goes as follows:

We’re the women of the union in the forefront of the fight,

We fight for women’s issues, we fight for women’s rights,

We’re prepared to fight for freedom, we’re prepared to stand our ground,

Women make the union strong.

(Chorus)

Through our sisters and our brothers, we can make our union strong,

For respect and equal value we have done without too long,

We no longer have to tolerate injustices and wrongs,

For the union makes us strong.

(Chorus)

When racism in all of us is finally out and gone,

Then the union movement will be twice as powerful and strong,

For equality for everyone will move the cause along,

For the union makes us strong.

(Chorus)

The centennial edition of the Little Red Songbook includes these two new verses credited to Steve Suffet:

They say our day is over; they say our time is through,

They say you need no union if your collar isn't blue,

Well that is just another lie the boss is telling you,

For the Union makes us strong!

(Chorus)

They divide us by our color; they divide us by our tongue,

They divide us men and women; they divide us old and young,

But they'll tremble at our voices, when they hear these verses sung,

For the Union makes us strong!

(Chorus)