American Old Time Song Lyrics: 37 A Fight For Home And Honor At Homestead
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 37
A Fight for Home and Honor At Homestead.
Copyright, 1892, by Will Rossiter.
Composed and Sung with enormous success by J. w. Kelly.
We are asking one another as we pass the time away,
Why men must have recourse to arms to get their proper pay;
And why their labor unions must not be recognized,
While the actions of a syndicate must not be criticized.
The trouble down at Homestead was brought about this way:
When a grasping corporation had the audacity to say,
"You must all renounce your union and forswear your liberty,
And we'll promise you a chance to live and die in slavery."
Chorus.
So the man who fights for honor, none can blame him;
May luck attend wherever he may roam;
And no son of his will ever live to shame him.
While liberty and honor rules his home.
When a crew of armed ruffians came without authority,
Like thieves at night, while decent men were sleeping peacefully,
Can you wonder that all honest men with indignation burn?
Why, the slimy worm that crawls the earth when trod upon will turn!
When the locked-out men at Homestead saw that they were face to face
With a lot of tramp detectives, then they knew it was their place-
To protect their homes and families; and that was nobly done;
And the public did applaud them for the victory they've won.- Chorus.
See that sturdy band of workingmen start at break of day-
Determination in their eyes, which surely meant to say:
"No men can drive us from our homes, for which we've toiled so long;
No men shall take our places, no! for here's where we belong."
A woman with a rifle saw her husband in the crowd:
She handed him the weapon, and they cheered her long and loud.
He kissed her, and said, "Mary, you go home till we are through."
She answered, "No! if you must fight, my place is here with you!" - Chorus.