Songs of Love and Rebellion/The conscience of the workers
THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORKERS
The conscience of the workers, it is waking day by day,
It is rising in a flood-tide that will sweep the Beast away;
It is shaking down the fortress and the prison dark and strong,
And the courtrooms of injustice, and the thrones of vested wrong!
The conscience of the workers, it has wakened sword in hand,
And the Marseillaise is ringing in a chorus deep and grand;
Over hill and dale and valley, in a fearless, glad refrain,
Onward sweeps the hymn of freedom 'round a rebel world again.
The conscience of the workers—O my masters! nevermore
Will we cringe and plead for mercy at your gold-stained temple door!
We shall come in all the glory of the human soul awake,
We shall reach our strong hands forward and our birthright we shall TAKE!
The conscience of the workers—O my masters, heed you this:
We, the workers, were awakened from the dead by Freedom's kiss;
We were 'wakened from our slumber and shall never sleep again,
'Till your kingdom lies in ashes and the stars of freedom reign.