It's hard to believe that "Part of the Union" is not meant satirically. I've never considered it anything other than a satire. In the early to mid-1970s there was a lot of public feeling against the perceived selfishness and power of the trade unions, who were, it seemed, always going on strike and inconveniencing the public. This song is a swipe at union arrogance.
---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <s3raphita@...> wrote : Re "Part of the Union": Another great song. But I could virtually repeat what I just now posted about The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" in reference to The Strawbs' hit. When I heard it at the time it came out I took it as a straight piece of pro-union power, lefty agitprop. Since then some have suggested it was in reality a satirical attack on the unions. From Wiki: The song is widely considered to be a proud folk anthem for the working man, and was unofficially adopted by the trade union movement. Some see the lyrics as satirically anti-trade union, though reportedly “the band has frequently stated that that’s not the case at all” while Cousins did not deny the satire in an 2010 interview. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <no_re...@yahoogroups.com> wrote : Here's your right-leaning political pop song. (Bear in mind the historical context.) Strawbs - Part of the union 1973 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdOCWUgwiWs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdOCWUgwiWs Strawbs - Part of the union 1973 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdOCWUgwiWs Strawbs - Part of the union 1973 Now I'm a union man Amazed at what I am I say what I think That the company stinks Yes I'm a union man. When we meet in the... View on www.youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdOCWUgwiWs Preview by Yahoo ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <s3raphita@...> wrote : What would be your choice? Maybe . . . This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie (1940) Where Have All the Flowers Gone - Pete Seeger (1961) The Times They Are a-Changin’ - Bob Dylan (1964) God Save the Queen - The Sex Pistols (1977) (All political pop seems to be left-leaning. Can't think of a right-wing pop song off the top of my head.) But I'd rate John Lennon's output as the best. Definitely the catchiest! Maybe the song Imagine (1971) . . . or Revolution (1968) . . . or Give Peace a Chance (1969). But this Lennon track is so disillusioned and "plague on both your houses" that it best encapsulates my attitude to the dismal world of politics . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxyMIov9ngg&index=1&list=FLJad8vN225Nr5hDIzlEOYMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxyMIov9ngg&index=1&list=FLJad8vN225Nr5hDIzlEOYMA