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Arise, ye prisoners of starvation Arise, o wretched of the earth For Justice thunders condemnation A better world's in birth Throw off the chains of superstition Shake loose, o slaves no more in thrall! We'll raise the world on new foundations Those trodden down shall now stand tall Ch: Now the rich man's guns are coming out Seize and point them all at him! As billions rise around the world The world is ours to win! Companions, bold and rational Join in, come help us fight In union international Is working people's might. We need no condescending saviors To rule us from their judgement hall Our minds alight, by reason guided, Each thorny choice engaging all. To make the rich cough up their stolen goods To free the spirit from its cell We'll plan our moves, debate in thoughtful words And prosecute them well. |
No more deluded by the rich man's lies On tyrants only we'll make war As soldiers striking for our souls and lives We'll break ranks and fight no more But if those cannibals keep trying To sacrifice us to their pride They soon shall hear the bullets flying We'll shoot the brass on our own side! Behold them seated in their glory The kings of mine and rail and soil What have you read in all their story But how they plundered toil? The fruits of workers' toil are buried In strongholds of the idle few In taking back the wealth At last, we claim our due Let none build walls to divide us Walls of hate nor walls of stone Come greet the dawn and stand beside us We'll live together or die alone Confronting violent oppression Let's light our way with life and love The rich may offer us concessions But power won't come from above. |