The Preacher and The Slave

from The Beginning, The Struggle, and The Reward by Steve Towson

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lyrics

The Preacher and The Slave
(Traditional written by Joe Hill)

Long-haired preachers come out every night,
Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right;
But when asked how 'bout something to eat
They will answer in voices so sweet

Chorus
You will eat, bye and bye,
In that glorious land above the sky;
Work and pray, live on hay,
You'll get pie in the sky when you die

And the Starvation Army, they play,
And they sing and they clap and they pray,
Till they get all your coin on the drum,
Then they tell you when you're on the bum

(Chorus)

If you fight hard for children and wife
Try to get something good in this life
You're a sinner and bad man, they tell,
When you die you will sure go to hell.

(Chorus)

Working folk of all countries, unite
Side by side we for freedom will fight
When the world and its wealth we have gained
To the grafters we'll sing this refrain

Chorus (modified)
You will eat, bye and bye,
When you've learned how to cook and how to fry;
Chop some wood, 'twill do you good
You'll eat pie in the sky when you die
That's a lie

credits

from The Beginning, The Struggle, and The Reward, released January 1, 2011

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Steve Towson Rosewood, Australia

stevetowson.com

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