 Saipan |
| Saipan ©Linda Allen Chorus and tune, traditional, New lyrics by Linda Allen (Inspired by the documentary, Behind the Labels: Garment Workers on U.S. Saipan) CHORUS You pay me, you owe me, Pay me my money down Pay me or go to jail, Pay me my money down From China and the Philippines Pay me my money down We came here with hopes and dreams Pay me my money down You took us to your factories, Pay me my money down Tried to bring us to our knees, Pay me my money down CHORUS The barracks are not fit for pigs, Pay me my money down But you should see the boss's digs, Pay me my money down We miss our kids, for them we stay, Pay me my money down We work to send home all our pay, Pay me my money down CHORUS You work us sixteen hour days, Pay me my money down But eight hour's work is all you pay, Pay me my money down The quota keeps on rising higher, Pay me my money down We speed up, or we get fired, Pay me my money down CHORUS The night shift's locked behind these walls, Pay me my money down A fire would surely kill us all, Pay me my money down Before inspections, OSHA calls, Pay me my money down Tells the bosses, sweep the halls, Pay me my money down CHORUS You say you'll move the factory, Pay me my money down Where workers work for less than me, Pay me my money down For three months we have cut and sewed, Pay me my money down You must pay us what you owe, Pay me my money down CHORUS On US land we sweat and slave, Pay me my money down So Penneys, Gap and Sears can save, Pay me my money down Home of the brave, Land of the Free, Pay me my money down But not for workers such as me, Pay me my money down CHORUS Ashes and Smoke È2001 Linda Allen and Marie Eaton It was a clear September morning, A phone call gave the warning There were many people dying, Some were running, some were flying Into the arms of mystery, A sacrifice to history We have been burned, burned by the fire And we are ashes, ashes and smoke But we will rise, higher and higher On the wings of compassion, justice and hope It was a bright October morning, the TV gave the warning Retribution's bombs were flying, and innocents were dying A mistake we've made before, as we sacrifice to war CHORUS May these lives not be wasted, or the bitterness we've tasted For if rage and indignation, Is the common cup of nations Then hatred will birth violence, Until our tears transform us CHORUS |