"Thank the Union" : FAWM

Thank the Union

Liner Notes

I think the most brilliant skirmish topic of FAWM 2026 was Freebird. You can't copyright a title. Anyone who took up the challenge has a perfect song in place if somebody calls out to the stage, "Sing Freebird!"

In honor of Labor Day and Dolly Parton, the patron of this challenge, write a song, with the theme or title 9 to 5.

Host: @ductapeguy

This could have used another version of bridge but it's a skirmish and my time was up. #acoustic-one-take #fuc

Lyrics

Thank the Union © Sean McGaughey, September 7th, 2026. Songsprint Skirmish: 9 to 5

Bosses want the same things they did in olden days. the maximum from workers for minimum pay. To accumulate profits without pesky regulations. One too many rules and, and they’ll move to other nations.

Chorus If you work nine to five, thank the union. If you return home alive, thank the union. If you get weekends off, if you are covered when you cough, You could thank your lucky stars, but, thank the union.

Workers found alone, they couldn't stand up to abuse. If one dared to complain, it’s their job their bound to lose.

But brave ones found if we stand with one another Each of our lives could be a little better.

Comments

@kerriwinter 13h

👏👏👏 this is great!!

@strumandstress 1d

Great song in the tradition of "Union Maid" Hope a major union picks it up and makes it their theme song.

@b3nut 2d

Simple, upbeat, and a big dose of the cold hard truth. Woody Guthrie, somewhere, is smiling.

@nickweisenfels 2d

Rad. I work in safety oversight (government) and this is righteous.

@charliecheney 2d

Wow, this is great! I drive bus for the county have a great union job, I'm really grateful. I should definitely sing this at the next company picnic. Its like a Pete Seeger classic, I love the chords.

@robinleaf 3d

These lyrics are brilliant! And so true. I love the style you've chosen for it, too. This would be a great song to sing at protests.

@leslie333 4d

Thank the unions! Great choice for the 9-5 skirmish and for Labor day week - like it, a peppy union song.

@rshakesp 5d

Lovely (almost protest) song - that celebrates an important societal function. I love the cyclic chord structure and the rapid fire lyrical delivery - lovely job

@wynia 5d

Solidarity to the working classes and masses! I could picture someone with a uke in hand at a protest here in WI, where union busting has sadly been in style with people in power for a good decade and a half now 😕 I like to think Saint Dolly would have been firmly on the side of those fighting for basic rights and healthcare and all the good things that come when people band together!

@coolparadisoTEAM 5d

Viva the worker revolution, maybe my generation is the last to remember how they gave us almost everything - we didn't have the power in those days! genius Sean great song!

@andygetch 5d

Such a fun little ditty that hides a lot of weight. Woody would have been proud to hear this one!

@raspberry33 6d

Nicely done - great vocals and uke, and I for one, agree with the point of view. A great rallying cry!

@elainedimasi 6d

Love the vocal melody specifically at "but brave ones found" - the whole song is so jaunty, real folk music on a perennial, pertinent topic.

@newukenewyork 6d

Today I learned that the government in the 20s (and then again in the 50s) tried to turn the pro-union "May Day" holiday into "Americanization Day" and then "Loyalty Day," to paper over the worker protests. So this was the perfect song for me to find via the "reciprocate" button tonight. I love the bouncy chorus melody and energy. Very nice!

@johnkaniecki 6d

Yes, thank the union. I worked for a labor attorney, and before that, I was an engineer who knew a lot about labor history. I won the Joe Hill Poetry Prize for my poem "Tea With Joe Hill."

@edwinb 6d

The sound of a C to E7 is so cool. And I can imagine Dolly singing this one :). Catchy! Also, yes, thank the union!

@jem 6d

This is a clever and thoughtful take on the skirmish and the chorus is both catchy and has great lyrics. The jaunty strumming is perfect. Kind of like a reimagined Union Maid.

Command Center

Thank the Union

Liner Notes

Lyrics

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