Now Rest Us All We Working Folk

Now Rest Us All, We Workingfolk

Now rest us all, we workingfolk, our tools we shall let lay
no more the master's profit will our labor serve this day
No more the boss's haughty power shall hold our might at bay
Oh tidings of freedom and joy, freedom and joy
Oh tidings of freedom and joy

In Early Modern Europe, great Capital arose
and spread its shadow o'er the world on every land imposed
But now through all our struggles it is in its dying throes
Oh tidings of freedom and joy, freedom and joy
oh tidings of freedom and joy

When first the odious gentry tried to seize the common land
then from the peasants there arose many a rebel band
The soldiers cut them down but still their spirit guides our hand
Oh tidings of freedom and joy, freedom and joy
Oh tidings of freedom and joy

Then in the fields and factories, and million darkened streets
we wage workers asserted that the bosses we must beat
and made the drum of unity our billion marching feet
Oh tidings of freedom and joy, freedom and joy
Oh tidings of freedom and joy

Oh bureaucrats and patriots have tried to lead astray
our dignity to compromise, our freedom to delay
but the bells of revolution will grow louder every day
Oh tidings of freedom and joy, freedom and joy
Oh tidings of freedom and joy

Then meet in field and factory our barricades to hold
and build a new and better world in ashes of the old,
our shackles, we will shatter them our destiny unfold
Oh tidings of freedom and joy, freedom and joy
Oh tidings of freedom and joy