Woody Guthrie
Tear the Fascists Down
Woody Guthrie was one of the most important folk musicians of the 20th Century. His work has inspired countless other artists, including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Of Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck said the following:
'Harsh voiced and nasal, his guitar hanging like a tire iron on a rusty rim, there is nothing sweet about Woody, and there is nothing sweet about the songs he sings. But there is something more important for those who will listen. There is the will of the people to endure and fight against oppression. I think we call this the American spirit.'
There's a great and a bloody fight 'round this whole world tonight And the battle, the bombs and shrapnel reign Hitler told the world around he would tear our union down But our union's gonna break them slavery chains Our union's gonna break them slavery chains I walked up on a mountain in the middle of the sky Could see every farm and every town I could see all the people in this whole wide world That's the union that'll tear the fascists down, down, down That's the union that'll tear the fascists down When I think of the men and the ships going down While the Russians fight on across the Don There's London in ruins and Paris in chains Good people, what are we waiting on? Good people, what are we waiting on? So, I thank the Soviets and the mighty Chinese vets The Allies the whole wide world around To the battling British, thanks, you can have ten million Yanks If it takes 'em to tear the fascists down, down, down If it takes 'em to tear the fascists down But when I think of the ships and the men going down And the Russians fight on across the Don There's London in ruins and Paris in chains Good people, what are we waiting on? Good people, what are we waiting on? So I thank the Soviets and the mighty Chinese vets The Allies the whole wide world around To the battling British, thanks, you can have ten million Yanks If it takes 'em to tear the fascists down, down, down If it takes 'em to tear the fascists down