jim@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Mercer) (05/02/91)
i have just joined a housing co-operative named bread and roses. i am told that the name comes from a feminist protest song (40's or 50's). does anyone have the lyrics? thanx -- [ Jim Mercer jim@lsuc.On.Ca || ...!uunet!attcan!lsuc!jim +1 416 947-5258 ] [ Educational Systems Manager - Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, CANADA ] [ Standards are great. They give non-conformists something to not conform to. ] [ The opinions expressed here may or may not be those of my employer ]
shore@theory.tn.cornell.edu (Melinda Shore) (05/02/91)
In article <1991May1.204611.27379@lsuc.on.ca> jim@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Mercer) writes: >i am told that the name comes from a feminist protest song (40's or 50's). It comes from a song written for a garment worker's strike in the, uh, '20s or so. "We strike for bread, but we strike for roses, too," or something like that. The gist of it is that quality of life is important, also. -- Software longa, hardware brevis Melinda Shore - Cornell Information Technologies - shore@theory.tn.cornell.edu
heidi@wolf.unet.com (Heidi Wolf) (05/09/91)
In article <1991May1.204611.27379@lsuc.on.ca> jim@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Mercer) writes: > >i have just joined a housing co-operative named bread and roses. >i am told that the name comes from a feminist protest song (40's or 50's). >does anyone have the lyrics? >thanx The version posted below is from Peter Seeger's book CARRY IT ON!, "a history in song and picture of the working men and women of America," copyright 1985. Seeger includes the tune and the guitar chords as well as the lyrics. [Note: I've also heard this sung, with minor variations from the lyrics posted here, by Mimi Farina and Joan Baez on the album BREAD AND ROSES.] "BREAD AND ROSES" ** -- Words by James Oppenheim; music by Mimi Farina (Joan Baez's sister). Copyright 1976, Farina Music. ** Based on a sign carried by a striker in the 1912 Lawrence, MA, textile mill strike: WE WANT BREAD AND WE WANT ROSES TOO.] 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 here are singing: Bread and roses, bread and roses. As we go marching, marching, We battle too for men, For they are in the struggle, And together we shall win. Our days 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 call for bread; Small art and love and beauty Their trudging spirits knew -- Yes, it is bread we fight for, But we fight for roses, too. As we go marching, marching, We're standing proud and tall: 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!