Go! cotton lords and corn lords, go!
Go! Ye live on loom and acre,
But let be seen-some law between
The giver and the taker.
Go! treasure well your miser’s store
With crown, and cross, and sabre!
Despite you all-we’ll break your thrall,
And have our land and labour.
You forge no more-you fold no more
Your cankering chains about us;
We heed you not-we need you not,
But you can’t do without us.
You’ve lagged too long, the tide has turned,
Your helmsmen all were knavish;
And now we’ll be-as bold and free,
As we’ve been tame and slavish.
Our lives are not your sheaves to glean-
Our rights your bales to barter:
Give all their own-from cot to throne,
But ours shall be THE CHARTER!
(Ernest Jones)
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