Name: Scabs
Channel: Anne Feeney
Description: License options are available for this song. Here's a jug band/swing ode to 'the lowest life form found in nature's lab' - strikebreakers or Scabs!

Single $1

Here's a jug band/swing ode to 'the lowest life form found in nature's lab' - strikebreakers or Scabs!

folk pittsburgh labor union activist agitator environmentalist jail for justice

Anne Feeney

hellraiser and union maid Anne Feeney is the best labor singer in North America according to Utah Phillips.

Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Anne Feeney is the granddaughter of an intrepid mineworkers' organizer, who also used music to carry the message of solidarity to working people. After two decades of community activism and regional performances at rallies, Anne took her message on the road. Since 1991 Anne has traveled to the frontlines in 40 states, Canada, Mexico, Ireland and Sweden. Her anthem “Have You Been to Jail for Justice?” is being performed by Peter, Paul and Mary. Dubbed the "minister of culture" to the movements for economic and social justice and human rights, Anne is "the best labor singer in North America" according to Utah Phillips.

Song Info

Genre

Acoustic • Acoustic Folk

Charts

Peak #71

Peak in subgenre #8

Author

Anne Feeney

Rights

Anne Feeney, BMI

Uploaded

January 22, 2006

Track Files

MP3

MP3 2.3 MB • 128 kbps • 2:28

Story behind the song

I wrote this song for Solidarity Day '91...  I was inspired by a New York Daily News striking reporter.  In a curious turn of events he ended up inside the building at 3 AM during the height of the strike. He talked about what it was like to see pictures of someone else's kids on the desk he worked at for 22 years. He said it was like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" --- that only pod people could come in and do what these scabs were doing.

Lyrics

There's an alien life form 
Been creepin round my job site
Looks almost human, 
But something about 'em ain't right 
They just cross right over a picket line
Pay no attention to a picket sign - 
They're called

(Chorus)
Scabs -- scabs
The lowest life form found in nature's lab
They've got no brains, they've got no heart
Scabs are tearing our communities apart!

They might be reptilian, 
The blood flows like ice in their veins
Or extra-terrestrial recyclers 
That use shit for brains
What does it mean to have the "right to strike" if companies can do anything they like?
Like using: (chorus)

Before we had unions, I'll tell ya
Conditions were bad
Under-staffed, overworked, underpaid
Until we finally got mad
But now if we walked out to
Protect our rights
They'd just give away our jobs
To those parasites, to those (Chorus)

I could puke watching co-workers
Turned into weasels and traitors
They must be pod people
Hatched by those corporate raiders
Our labor law is crazy
It's so damn two faced
I haven't been fired, just permanently replaced by: (chorus)

Coda:
Oh listen to your mama, this isn't idle gab
You're pretty damn low on the food chain
If you think you've got to grab
Your striking neighbor's job
I guess you gotta be a Scab!

Song Likes

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Comments 1

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ozfan

Dec 03, 2007

I love your lyrics.  "Lowest form of life found in natures labs" is so creative.  I've never worked for a union shop but your song has painted a telling picture.