Bread and Roses

SOURCE:  https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/judycollins/breadandroses.html

https://lauragraceweldon.com/2022/07/04/bread-roses/

KEYWORDS:  Strike, Union, Labor, Justice, Soul, Body, 

The slogan “Bread and Roses” originated in a poem of that name by James Oppenheim, published in American Magazine in December 1911, which attributed it to “the women in the West.”

It is commonly associated with the textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts during January to March 1912, now often known as the “Bread and Roses strike.” The strike, which united dozens of immigrant communities under the leadership of the Industrial Workers of the World, was led to a large extent by women.

As we go marching, marching in the beauty of the day

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses

For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!”

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men

For they are women's children, and we mother them again

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient song of bread

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew

Yes, it is bread we fight for - but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days

The rising of the women means the rising of the race

No more the drudge and idler — ten that toil where one reposes

But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes

Hearts starve as well as bodies;

Bread and roses! Bread and roses!