In honor of Labor Day
Casey Jones, the Union Scab written by Joe Hill.
Here’s a bit of Pete Seeger’s recording:
And the end of the song -
“…Casey Jones went scabbing on the angels,
Just like he did to workers on the S. P. line.
Well the angels got together, they said it wasn’t fair
that Casey Jones to go around a-scabbing everywhere.
The Angel Union No. 23 they sure were there,
And they promptly fired Casey down the Golden Stair.
Casey Jones went to Hell a-flying;
Casey Jones, the Devil said, “Oh fine;
Casey Jones, get busy shoveling sulfur
That’s what you get for scabbing on the S.P. Line.”
Remember: Friends don’t let friends cross picket lines.
And a bit of non-labor editorializing – The New York “Labor Day parade” is on September 12 NOT on Labor Day. It’s been like that for quite a few years as the NYC Central Labor Council (I’ll keep that bit of editorializing to myself) gave up on competing with the West Indian Day parade in Brooklyn. This is a big part of the reason I’m against a holiday related to September 11. Holidays become vacation time; time to party with little thought to the reason for the holiday. Aside from HBO running Band of Brothers marathons, how many people really honor those who died in service on Memorial Day vs. those who see it as pool/beach opening day? Veterans Day may at least have less party competition, but that doesn’t mean many spend their time honoring those who served. Not being a holiday ensures more remembrance of what happened on September 11.
