Bread and Roses (Windborne)

In honor of International Women's Day 2020, as well as the 108th anniversary of the ending of the Bread and Roses Strike in Lawrence MA (January-March 1912).
Text by James Oppenheim, adapted by Windborne
Melody by Martha Coleman, Arrangement by Windborne
Live at the Blackstone River Theatre, January 19, 2020
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"What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist - the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art... The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too."
-Rose Schneiderman, union activist and organizer, 1912
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 go marching, marching, we fight for children too,
For they are watching learning and they’ll make the world anew.
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 cry for 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 go marching, marching, together we stand tall
For the rising of the women means the rising of us all.
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!

[@n0gulag]

This brought tears to my eyes.

[@lawrenceschofer9523]

Phenomenal harmonies!

[@kimhealy1446]

Vida Dutton Scudder and Florence Converse, ora pro nobis.

[@jacobite2353]

I prefer your version to Judy Collins'