Joe Hill / Billy Bragg, There Is Power in a Union

In this special Labor Day episode of Music and Revolution, Rolf Straubhaar breaks down two powerhouse anthems that share a title: "There Is Power in a Union"—one written by IWW martyr Joe Hill in 1913, and the other by British folk-punk icon Billy Bragg in 1986. Beyond the backyard barbecues and end-of-summer sales, Labor Day sits on a history of working-class struggle. Rolf contrasts the federal holiday's origins with May Day and the Haymarket affair, exploring how radical organizing laid the groundwork for basic worker protections.

The episode explores Joe Hill's life, his tragic execution by firing squad in Utah, and his signature strategy of setting labor lyrics to popular gospel tunes. It then crosses the Atlantic to look at Billy Bragg's 1986 anthem, set to a Civil War melody during the height of Thatcher-era anti-union politics. Rolf analyzes both songs verse-by-verse, highlights cover versions across decades, and shares a personal reflection on his own journey as a member of the Texas State Employees Union and the American Association of University Professors.

What You'll Find in This Episode

• Labor Day vs. May Day: How the federal Labor Day holiday was created by Grover Cleveland to divert attention from May Day, International Workers' Day, and the legacy of the 1886 Haymarket affair.
• The Life and Martyrdom of Joe Hill: The story of Swedish immigrant Joel Hägglund, his organizing with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), his conviction on flimsy evidence, and his final command: "Don't mourn — organize!"
• The IWW & The Little Red Songbook: How the "Wobblies" weaponized congregational music, rewriting Salvation Army hymns like "There Is Power in the Blood" to build community and organize workers.
• Billy Bragg & 1980s Britain: How a working-class kid from Essex repurposed the Civil War anthem "The Battle Cry of Freedom" during the UK miners' strikes to challenge corporate power and Thatcherite policy.
• Verse-by-Verse Comparisons: Close readings of both songs, examining their critiques of religious complacence, scab labor, dangerous workplace conditions, and imperial war.
• Cover Versions & Picket Line Anthems: A tour of reinterpretations ranging from Utah Phillips, Bucky Halker, and street brass bands to blue-collar punk covers and live performances during the 2011 Wisconsin Capitol protests.
• Rolf’s Personal Union History: Rolf's evolution from viewing unions as relics of the part to witnessing collective bargaining firsthand as a teacher and active Texas union member.

Keywords

• Joe Hill
• Billy Bragg
• There Is Power in a Union
• Industrial Workers of the World
• IWW
• Wobblies
• Labor Day history
• May Day
• Haymarket affair
• Little Red Songbook
• Labor movement
• Union organizing
• Collective bargaining
• British miners' strike
• Utah Phillips
• Protest music
• Public humanities
• Music and Revolution