[Newspoetry] Updated Folksong Classic

[Paul Kotheimer]

Radical Cheerleader

(to the tune of "Union Maid" by Woody Guthrie/traditional melody [a.k.a.
"Red Wing"]) --new verses and chorus by Paul Kotheimer, Dec. 2000.

     dedicated to Aimee Jennings.



1.] There once was a rocker-grrl
with a freak flag to unfurl
and a puppet show on the W. T. O.
with a message that intended to change the world.
She'd go to the center of town, 
where her comrades were locked down,
and she never was afraid
when the pepper spray sprayed.
She always stood her ground, singin'...

[CHORUS:] 

You can't catch me, I'm runnin' with the black bloc!
Stuff your crotch with a tube sock, copper, 
I'm a-runnin' with the bla-ack bloc!
No, you can't catch me, I'm runnin' with the black bloc,
and I'll be runnin' with the black bloc
'til the revolution is nigh
or 'til the day I die.

2.] Now this rebel girl gets crass,
when she's caught a whiff of the old tear gas,
with a radical cheer against the riot gear
that goes "acka-backa, soda-cracka, kiss-my-ass!"
and tough as it may seem,
she will go to the extreme.
'Til an end to oppression, with no concession,
is more than just a dream, she'll sing...

[Repeat CHORUS, twice if necessary.]

-------------------------

Chords

VERSE {4/4| D  A7  | D    | G    | D    |
       
          | A7     | D    | E7   | A7   |
       
          | D  A7  | D    | G    | D    |
      
          | A7     | D    |E7  A7| D    |}

CHORUS {|G      |      | D    |      |

        |A7     |      | D  (Dmaj7)*| D7    |

        |G      |      | D    |      |

        |A7     |      | D  G | D  (A7)** |}

NOTES:

*this "passing chord" is optional, but makes for good harmony.
**use A7 as a pick-up between the 1st ch. and the 2d v., but not as the
ending.

melody and original Guthrie lyrics can be found (among other places) in
"Songs of the Workers: to fan the flames of discontent (35th ed.)"
published by the Industrial Workers of the World, 3435 North Sheffield,
Chicago, IL 60657. For demo CD of this version write to the hand-made
record label <herringb at prairienet.org> or check back here for an .mp3,
coming soon, we promise.


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