[Newspoetry] Two Songs for Political Direct Action

[Paul Kotheimer]

The GEO is Gonna Roll the Union On

<ital>To the tune of John Hancock's "Roll the Unoin On," the tune of which
is similar to a number of traditional tunes of the American South,
including "Polly Wally Doodle," for example.  Hancock's 1929 [?] recording
of "Roll the Union On" can be found on Disc One of the 10 CD set entitled
<Songs for Political Action> (Dr. Ronald D. Cohen, et al, eds.).</ital>

CHORUS	The G.E.O. is gonna roll,*
	We gonna roll the union on.
	The G.E.O. is gonna roll,
	We gonna roll the union on!

VERSE	If the chancellor's in the way,
	We gonna roll it over him,
	Roll it over him,
	We gonna roll it over him.
	If the chancellor's in the way,
	We gonna roll it over him.
	Roll this union on!

CHORUS [as above]

VERSE	If the TRUS-tees' in the way,
	We gonna roll it over them...

CHORUS

VERSE	Admini-STRA-tion's in the way,
	We gonna roll it over them...

CHORUS

VERSE	Department HEADS are in the way,
	We gonna roll it over them...

CHORUS

VERSE	Labor Re-LA-tions in the way?
	We gonna roll it over them...

CHORUS	

VERSE	If the GOV-'ner's in the way,
	We gonna roll it over him...

CHORUS

VERSE	The pres-i-DENT's in the way,
	We gonna roll it over him...

FINAL CHORUS

<ital>*N. B.: These lyrics are probably performed best if "roll" is
pronounced so as to almost-rhyme with "G. E. O.," in the spirit of the
19th Century African-American spiritual.  The G. E. O. is the Graduate
Employees Organization of the University of Illinois.  This AFT-affiliated
union has been fighting for recognition by the University administration
since 1993.</ital>

+++

ORGANIZE the G. E. O.

<ital>To the tune of "Got to Organize, Baby Mine," which is also preserved
in an audio recording from the 1929 on the same disc of the aforementioned
10-CD set.  Woody Guthrie sang the tune with some of his own lyrics as
part of an Almanac Singers' recording session in 1941.  The melody
resembles one I've heard sung on a record by Robert Johnson, which gives
me a hunch that it's a traditional 
tune of the American South as well.</ital>

CHORUS	Well, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Said, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Cause with a good, strong G. E. O.,
	Their union-busting's got to go:
	U. I. U. C. will recognize when we organize!

Let that president go watch the football game.
Let that president go watch the football game.		
Let him watch that football game.
His campus won't remain the same
If we just keep organizin' the G. E. O.

CHORUS	Well, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Said, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Yes, we got to organize,
	and cut the PRES-ident down to size.
	U. I. U. C. will recognize when we organize!

Let that chancellor keep talking on the phone!
Let that chancellor keep talking on the phone!
Well, he be talking on the phone,
But the G. E. O. won't leave him alone.
We just gotta keep organizing the G. E. O.

CHORUS	Well, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Said, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Yes, we got to organize,
	and cut the CHAN-c'llor down to size.
	U. I. U. C. will recognize when we organize!

Let that Board of Trustees talk that double-talk.
Let that Board of Trustees talk that double-talk.
They won't be talking double talk
When all their T. A.'s take a walk.
That's why we gotta keep organinzing the G. E. O.!

CHORUS	Well, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Said, we got to organize the G. E. O.!
	Yes, we got to organize,
	and cut those TRUS-tee's down to size.
	U. I. U. C. will recognize when we organize!
	U. I. U. C. will recognize when we organize!
	U. I. U. C. will recognize when we organize!

--Paul Kotheimer, for Associated Poets, Serious Folking Music, and The
Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE HAND-MADE RECORD LABEL
www.handmaderecords.com

c/o the School for Designing a Society
409 North Race Street
Urbana, IL 61801
217 384 0299 phone (no fax)