In the cotton mills of Pittsburgh, PA,
Back at the dawn of the industrial age,
Young women and girls all workin' like slaves,
For forty cents a day in a factory cage..
On the banks of the Allegheny, for half the pay of men,
Never getting home at night before nine or ten,
It was boomtown times for the capitalist class,
Buttermilk and sauerkraut for the poor working lass.
So in 1843 they marched in the street
For two dollars a day and a plate of roast beef.
In fancy dresses disturbing the peace,
It was justice for all and for each
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
For twelve hours a day, six days a week,
Sweat and toil in the steam and dirty heat,
Tied to a mean, unforgiving machine,
Spinners and weavers in a land of broken dreams.
The machines set the pace, technology ruled;
Inside the workplace they were driven like a mule.
Constant repetition for the delicate hands;
Brutal exploitation, it was time to take a stand.
So in 1845 they went out on strike,
5,000 strong with their men at their side.
Hauling out the scabs at the battle of Blackstock,
For the ten-hour day the ‘Burgh rocked –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
Cotton mill women, cotton girls,
It shook the whole industrial world –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
Then they got a law passed for the ten-hour day,
But it had a loophole, and they kept cuttin' their pay.
Then the bosses locked them out, said they couldn't come back,
Till they signed away their rights with a personal contract.
At the Market Street House, a town meeting was held;
Speaker after speaker said it's time to rebel.
This young Kentucky girl they called ‘The Unknown,’
Led the women the newspapers called ‘The Amazons.’
So in 1848 with axes in their hands,
They stormed the mills gates, took a militant stand.
Drivin' out the scabs, fightin' for their fair share,
A blow was struck for workers everywhere –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
Cotton mill women, cotton girls,
It shook the whole industrial world –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE…
Back at the dawn of the industrial age,
Young women and girls all workin' like slaves,
For forty cents a day in a factory cage..
On the banks of the Allegheny, for half the pay of men,
Never getting home at night before nine or ten,
It was boomtown times for the capitalist class,
Buttermilk and sauerkraut for the poor working lass.
So in 1843 they marched in the street
For two dollars a day and a plate of roast beef.
In fancy dresses disturbing the peace,
It was justice for all and for each
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
For twelve hours a day, six days a week,
Sweat and toil in the steam and dirty heat,
Tied to a mean, unforgiving machine,
Spinners and weavers in a land of broken dreams.
The machines set the pace, technology ruled;
Inside the workplace they were driven like a mule.
Constant repetition for the delicate hands;
Brutal exploitation, it was time to take a stand.
So in 1845 they went out on strike,
5,000 strong with their men at their side.
Hauling out the scabs at the battle of Blackstock,
For the ten-hour day the ‘Burgh rocked –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
Cotton mill women, cotton girls,
It shook the whole industrial world –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
Then they got a law passed for the ten-hour day,
But it had a loophole, and they kept cuttin' their pay.
Then the bosses locked them out, said they couldn't come back,
Till they signed away their rights with a personal contract.
At the Market Street House, a town meeting was held;
Speaker after speaker said it's time to rebel.
This young Kentucky girl they called ‘The Unknown,’
Led the women the newspapers called ‘The Amazons.’
So in 1848 with axes in their hands,
They stormed the mills gates, took a militant stand.
Drivin' out the scabs, fightin' for their fair share,
A blow was struck for workers everywhere –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE.
Cotton mill women, cotton girls,
It shook the whole industrial world –
WHEN THE COTTON MILL WOMEN ROSE…
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