now I walk that picket line
I was down in Bloody Harlan
when they tried to organize
The miners faced starvation,
air could see it in their eyes.
The company hired gun thugs,
many miners died they said.
Then come to kill the Union,
but they lost their lives instead.
And his which side are you on, boy,
You're either for the rich man
or the Union standing strong
We were fighting Hitler's army
in the war across the sea
But they would not hire a miner
I'll never trust a rich man
for as long as I draw breath
To keep his golden mansions
He'll starve his son to death
And it's which side are you on, boy,
You're either for the rich man
or the Union standing strong
Don't mourn my passing long
And keep the Union strong
And here's to every miner
Who dares to take a stand
Who lives to feed his family
But then dies a Union man
And it's which side are you on, boy?
You're either for the rich man
Or the Union standing strong
boy, which side are you on?
You're either for the rich man
or the Union standing strong.