these are the songs we sung

The Banks of Marble. by Lee Rice

This song of protest from the depression era has echoes of earlier grievances that played a part in American politics. It could have been sung by the Free oilers, The Silverites, or the Wobblies.

I've traveled round this country

Trom shore to shining shore;

It really made me wonder,

The things I heard and saw.

I saw the weary farmer

Plowing his soil and loam;

I heard the auction hammer

Just a knocking down his home.

But the banks are made of marble,

With a guard at every door,

And the vaults are stuffed with silver

That the farmer sweataed for.

I saw the weary miner

Scurbing coal dust from his back;

And I heard his children crying,

"We got no coal to heat the shack."

Chorus

I saw the seaman standing

Idly by the shore;

And I heard the owner saying,

"Got no work for you no more":

Chorus

I saw my brothers working

Throughout this mighty land.

And I prayed we'd get together,

And together make a stand.

Then we'd own those banks of marble,

With a guard at every door.

And we'd share those vaults of silver

That we have sweatee d for.