The Big Red Hymn Book
Some working-class anthems are sung to the tunes of Christian hymns.
(Irving Haberman / IH Images / Getty Images)
1. Christian Hymn vs IWW Song
In the Sweet By-and-By
In the sweet by-and-by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by-and-by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
The Preacher and the Slave
You will eat by and by,
In that glorious land above the sky.
Work and pray, live on hay.
You’ll get pie in the sky when you die (that’s a lie).
2. Christian Hymn vs IWW Song
There Is Power in the Blood (of a Lamb)
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Sorry, but this article is available to subscribers only. Please log in or become a subscriber.