My Children are Seven in Number

My children are seven in number
We have to sleep four in a bed
I'm striking with my fellow workers
To get them more clothes and more bread

Shoes, shoes, we're striking for pairs of shoes
Shoes, shoes, we're striking for pairs of shoes

Pellagra is cramping my stomach
My wife is sick with TB
My babies are starving for sweet milk
Oh there's so much sickness for me

Milk, milk, we're striking for gallons of milk
Milk, milk, we're striking for gallons of milk

I'm needing a shave and a haircut
But barbers I cannot afford
My wife cannot wash without soapsuds
And she had to borrow a board

Soap, soap, we're striking for bars of soap
Soap, soap, we're striking for bars of soap

My house is a shack on the hillside
It's floors are unpainted and bare
I haven't a screen to my windows
And carbide cans do for a chair

Homes, homes, we're striking for better homes
Homes, homes, we're striking for better homes

They shot Barney Graham our leader
His spirit abides with us still
The spirit of strength for justice
No bullets have power to kill

Barney, Barney, we're thinking of you today
Barney, Barney, we're thinking of you today

Oh miners go on with the union
Oh miners go on with the fight
For we're in the struggle for justice
And we're in the struggle right

Justice, justice, we're striking for justice for all
Justice, justice, we're striking for justice for all