"gboozell at juno.com" wrote:
>
>
> Sometimes songs not intentionally written "for singing
> collectively in the midst of action" become such,
> spontaneously, or evolve into that over time. The 1984
> Miners' strike in the UK: Crass did a benefit gig
> [their last performance as a band, I believe] and a
> lot of the striking miners were in the audience.
> Crass's "Do They Owe Us a Living?" became a song
> "singing collectively in the midst of action." The
> "they" in the title became the mining bosses that were
> fucking over the workers. I guess it's arguable if
> John Lennon's "All We Are Saying...." was written for
> singing at actions or not, too. Dunno the story behind
> his intent.
That is fascinating. I imagine it has happened with other songs. Is it correct by the way that Blake's Jerusalem was sung by English workers?
Carrol
Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the Holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? And did the Countenance divine Shine forth upon those clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, Among those dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold, Bring me my arrows of desire; Bring me my spear! O, clouds unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green and pleasant land.
-- William Blake