“Which Side Are You On?” is a song written by Florence Reece in 1931. Reece was the wife of Sam Reece, a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky. In 1931, the miners of that region were locked in a bitter and violent struggle with the mine owners. In an attempt to intimidate the Reece family, Sheriff J. H. Blair and his men (hired by the mining company) illegally entered their family home in search of Sam Reece. Sam had been warned in advance and escaped, but Florence and their children were terrorized in his place. That night, after the men had gone, Florence wrote the lyrics to “Which Side Are You On?”
Join the May day General Strike. Take the right side.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g&rel=0]
Pete Seeger singing:
Which side are you on, boys?
Which side are you on?
They say in Harlan County,
There are no neutrals there.
You’ll either be a union man,
Or a thug for J.H. Blair.
cho: Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
My daddy was a miner,
And I’m a miner’s son,
He’ll be with you fellow workers
Until the battle’s won
cho: Which side are you on?(4)
Oh, workers can you stand it?
Tell me how you can.
Will you be a lousy scab,
Or will you be a man ?
cho: Which side are you on?(4)
Come all of you good workers,
Good news to you I’ll tell,
Of how that good old union
Has come in here to dwell.
cho: Which side are you on?(4)