One of the marks of tough times in the US and in most countries is the expression of distress through music and the other arts. Labor Day is a celebration not only of the working person, but also of the struggle for recognition for Labor.

1) Which of these songs is sung to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic?”
a) “Casey Jones”
b) “Ballad of the MTA”
c) “Solidarity Forever”
d) ‘Over There”

2) During the Harlan County miner’s strike of 1931, Florence Reece wrote which labor anthem?
a) “Solidarity Forever”
b) “What Did You Learn in School Today?”
c) “We Shall Overcome”
d) “Which Side Are You On?”

3) A seldom heard Woody Guthrie tune tells the story of what Labor uprising?
a) The Haymarket riot
b) The Ludlow Massacre
c) The Flint sit down Strike.
d) The Pullman Strike

4) A more recent labor tune tells the story of the depressed steel workers of what Pennsylvania city?
a) Pittsburgh
b) Allentown
c) Bethlehem
d) Scranton

5) Which member of the group  “Rage Against the Machine” recently wrote and performed “Union Town” to benefit the America Votes Labor Unity Fund?
a) Tim Commerford
b) Zack de la Rocha
c) Tom Morello
d) Brad Wilk

6) Pete Seeger – one of labor’s best friends – was once a member of what 1950’s folk group?
a) the Kingston Trio
b) The New Christie Minstrels
c) The Weavers
d) The Brothers Four

7) During the Flint Sit-down Strike of 1936-1937, what song did the strikers rally around?
a) “Which Side Are You On”
b) “This Land Is Your Land”
c) “We Shall Overcome”
d) “Solidarity Forever”

8) Which song tells the story of a IWW organizer who died after a questionable murder trial?
a) Casey Jones
b) John Henry
c) Benny Hill
d) Joe Hill

9) “Oh you can’t scare me, I’m sticking to the union!” is a line from what labor anthem?
a) “Solidarity Forever”
b) “Union Maid”
c) “This Land Is Your Land”
d) “I’m Union and I’m Proud”

10) During the March on Washington in 1963, Joan Baez led the crowd in which now ubiquitous protest song?
a) “Blowing In The Wind”
b) “We shall Overcome’
c) “This Land is Your Land”
d) “Bread and Roses”

Here is wishing all a safe and reflective Labor Day. America became the nation we love with the rise of labor into the middle class. Never forget that. Take a few minutes to listen to some of these songs and think of the times that caused them to be written.

Answers:
1) a) “Solidarity Forever”
2) d) “Which Side Are You On?”
3) c) The Ludlow massacre
4) b) Allentown as captured by Billie Joel
5) c) Tom Morello (the proud son of a union teacher)
6) c) The Weavers (blacklisted during the McCarthy era)
7) a) “Which Side Are You On?”
8) d) Joe Hill (as done by many artists – I like the Phil Ochs version)
9) b) “Union Maid” (next line “I’m sticking to the union til the day I die”)
10) b) “We Shall Overcome”