Joe Hill - Should I Ever Be a Soldier

The Joe Hill classic, as recorded by The Progressive Labour Party, probably from the album A World to Win of unknown release date, likely mid-1970s.

Lyrics:

They're spending billions every year
For guns and ammunition
Their army and their navy dear
To keep in good condition
While millions live in misery
And millions die before us
Don't sing my country 'tis of thee
Just sing this little chorus:

Should I ever be a soldier
'Neath the red flag I will fight
Should a gun I ever shoulder
It's to crush the bosses might
Join progressive labour party
Men and women fall in line
Wage slaves of the world unite
Do your duty for the cause of workers liberty

They killed a million Vietnamese
To keep their profits flowing
They tell us they're omnipotent
That their system will keep growing
They'll soon send troops to Africa
To help defend apartheid
we'll turn their fascist guns around
And make this one their last ride

Should I ever be a soldier
'Neath the red flag I will fight
Should a gun I ever shoulder
It's to crush the bosses might
Join progressive labour party
Men and women fall in line
Wage slaves of the world unite
Do your duty for the cause of workers liberty

The bosses politicians say:
We must vote our conviction
There's nothing wrong with capitalism
Just needs a little fixin'
But communists around the world
We have the real solution
Reforms won't lead to worker's power
What we need is revolution

Should I ever be a soldier
'Neath the red flag I will fight
Should a gun I ever shoulder
It's to crush the bosses might
Join progressive labour party
Men and women fall in line
Wage slaves of the world unite
Do your duty for the cause of workers liberty