Power In A Union

Here is an arrangement of Billy Bragg’s veritable anthem, “Power In A Union”, based on the American Civil War song, “The Battle Cry of Freedom”, which was written by the wonderfully named George F. Root. This arrangement by Christine Evans, with annotations including chords and the appropriate entry point for the bass voices. Aside from… Continue reading Power In A Union

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Pete Seeger’s simple but effective song about mankind’s inability to learn the lessons of history. A simple arrangement for the Illawarra Union Singers.  Scroll down for Pete’s story about how the song came to be. Sheet Music: PDF Practice Track Pete Seeger on how the song came to be written: “I had been reading a… Continue reading Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

I Come and Stand at Every Door

These lyrics from an original Turkish poem by Nazim Hikmet, English translation by Jeanette Turner were set to music by Pete Seeger in 1962, using music by James Waters, (“The Great Silkie”). Pete sang the song in C, and later in life D. Choirs might usefully sing it in D or E. Note that the… Continue reading I Come and Stand at Every Door

One World, One Chance: A Song

I don’t know the provenance of this song. The two bits of sheet music I have found have the attribution, “Devised by Raised Voices of Climate Change Demonstration”, London December 3rd 2005. Tune: “Mayenziwe ‘Ntando Yakho”. Full SATB Version (Scroll down or click here for a simplified version) Sheet Music: PDF All Parts Soprano or… Continue reading One World, One Chance: A Song

Join Your Union: A Song

A song by John Warner ©John Warner 2006 Tune Hymn “Bread of Heaven” “Guide me oh thou great Jehovah/Redeemer” Welsh tune: Cwm Rhondda. Composed by John Hughes (1873-1932). Scroll down for lyrics, music and practice tracks. See also the simplified arrangement of this song! See John Warner’s website,  http://www.folkjohnwarner.com/, where you can find  John’s full… Continue reading Join Your Union: A Song

Joe Hill: The Song

Scroll down for lyrics, sheet music and practice tracks. Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund in Gävle, Sweden, and also known as Joseph Hillström (October 7, 1879– November 19, 1915) was a songwriter, itinerant laborer, and union organizer, who became famous around the world after a Utah court (wrongly) convicted him of murder. Even before the international… Continue reading Joe Hill: The Song

The Internationale

Here is an arrangement of this truly revolutionary song, The Internationale, the original words by Eugene Pottier (1871), and music by Pierre De Geyter (1888). This arrangement in G major, for the Illawarra Union Singers, by Doug McPherson (2021) from earlier arrangements by Jerry Engelbach, (2001), and  Alan Bush (1948). Sheet Music With Words; Click… Continue reading The Internationale

We Shall Not Give Up The Fight

A song from South Africa, in this incarnation,  inviting a unified and humanitarian response to the refugee crisis. Original Sheet Music Practice Tracks On PC Right Click Title to Download On Android Devices, Press and Hold to Download All Parts Soprano/Melody Alto Tenor Bass In Performance  

It’s Getting Really Hard to Sing Advance Australia Fair

A newer, simpler arrangement of this song can be found here: Here is Keith Binns’ 2014 rewrite of the lyrics to Advance Australia Fair; a commentary on the xenophobia inherent in our current policy on asylum seekers arriving by boat.  In the arrangement presented here, for a small group of singers, I have largely dispensed… Continue reading It’s Getting Really Hard to Sing Advance Australia Fair

In My Shoes: A Song

Image by By Russell Watkins/Department for International Development, CC BY 2.0. A song about the plight of refugees, asylum seekers, wanting to find sanctuary in Australia, by Marianne Tozer and Lyndon Piddington, with further arrangement by Doug McPherson.  The song is offered in two keys, Em and Fm. Fm is probably the best key for singing… Continue reading In My Shoes: A Song