The Internationale

— Billy Bragg

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The original French words to the most revered labor classic were written in 1870 by Eugène Pottier, and originally intended to be sung to the tune of La Marseillaise. Eighteen years later Pierre Degeyter set the poem to music, and his melody became widely used soon after.

A year after writing it Pottier joined in the Paris Commune, a revolutionary government, variously described as either anarchist or socialist in tenor, which ruled Paris for two months in 1871, before it was brutally suppressed.

The traditional British version of The Internationale is sung in 3 verses, while the American version, authored by Charles Hope Kerr, is sung in two.

The English versions are notoriously difficult. After consulting Pete Seeger, Billy Bragg agreed the lyrics are sometimes forced and unnatural. He composed revised verses, which he sings here in a 2006 re-release of a 1990 recording.

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Stand up, all victims of oppression
For the tyrants fear your might
Dont cling so hard to your possessions
For you have nothing, if you have no rights
Let racist ignorance be ended
For respect makes the empires fall
Freedom is merely privilege extended
Unless enjoyed by one and all

Chorus:

So come brothers and sisters
For the struggle carries on
The internationale
Unites the world in song
So comrades come rally
For this is the time and place
The international ideal
Unites the human race

Let no one build walls to divide us
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us
We'll live together or well die alone
In our world poisoned by exploitation
Those who have taken, now they must give
And end the vanity of nations
We've but one earth on which to live

And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields
We stand unbowed before their armour
We defy their guns and shields
When we fight, provoked by their aggression
Let us be inspired by like and love
For though they offer us concessions
Change will not come from above

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Personnel: Billy Bragg, vocals; Grant Showbiz, Wiggy, producers; Derek Bolland, Peter Haigh, Charlie Llewellin, Step Parikian, engineers.

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Songs not otherwise attributed were recorded at the annual Great Labor Arts Exchange in 2001, 2003, 2004, or 2005 at the National Labor College/George Meany Center, Silver Spring, Maryland. Engineers: Bob Barnes, Ellis Boal, Charlie Ray Fetty III, Joe Jencks, Ray Korona, George Mann, Dave Sless, Isaac Wilson.

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