Chords for Phil Ochs - Links on the Chain (Live at Newport)

Back in 1949, they purged out all the communists and socialists and _ [G#] homosexuals out of the labor unions,
_ [B] leaving behind _ virile American types who took major stands on all the major issues of the day.
And now I'd like to dedicate [B] a song to George Meany _ and other freedom fighters around the world.
_ _ Some call links on the chain. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ Come your ranks of labor, come your union core,
And see if you [A] remember the [B] struggles of before, _ When you were standing [E] helpless on the outside [F#] of the door.
[C#m] And you started [F#] building links [B] on the chain, [G#m] on the chain, [C#m] And you started [F#] building links on [B]
the chain.
_ _ _ When the police on the horses were waiting on demand, _ _ Riding through the [A] strike with a pistol in [B] their hand,
_ Swinging on the [E] skulls of many [F#]
union men.
[C#m] And you built [F#] one more link on the chain, [G#m] on the chain, [C#m] And you built [F#] one more link _ [B] on the _ chain. _ _
Then the army of the fascists tried to put you on the run, But the army of the union, they did what could be done.
Oh, the power [G#m] of _ [E] _ _
[F#] _ the [C#m] union, they did what could be done.
And you built [F#] one more link [B] on the chain, [G#m] on the chain, [C#m] And you built one [F#] more link [B] on the chain. _ _ _
And then in 1950, core decisions finally made, Oh, the black man was a rising man, raised in promises made,
And [G#m] your union took no stand, and your union [F#] was made free.
[C#m] And you lost [F#] yourself all links _ [B] on the chain, [G#m] on the chain, [C#m] And you lost [F#] yourself all links on [B] the chain. _ _ _
_ _ And then there came the [A] boycotts, and then the [B] freedom riots, And forgetting what you stood for, you tried to block the ties.
Oh, the [E] automation bosses were laughing [F#] on the side, [C#m] As they watched you [F#] lose your links [B] on the _ [G#m] _ chain,
[C#m] As they watched you lose your links [B] on the chain. _
_ You know when they block your trucks, boys, while laying on the road, _ All that they are doing [D] is all [B] that you have shown,
That [G#m] you've got to fight, you've got to fight, get [F#] what you are owed,
[B] When [C#m] you're building [F#] all your links [B] on the chain, [G#m] on the chain, When you're building all [F#] your links on [B] the chain.
_ _ _ _ _ And the man who tries to tell you [D] that they'll take your job [A] away, [B] _ He's the same man who was scatting hard just the other day,
And your [G#m] union's not a union, [E] he's [F#] thrown out of the way, [C#m] And he's choking [F#] on your links _ [B] on the chain, [G#m] on the chain,
And he's choking on [F#] your links on [B] the chain.
_ _ _ For now the times are [D] telling you, the [B] times are rolling on, And you're fighting for the same thing, the [E] job [B] that will be gone, _
Now it's only [G#m] fair to ask you boys, which [F#] side are you on, [C#m] As you're building [F#] all your [B] links on the chain, [G#m] on the chain,
[C#m] As you're building [F#] all your links, all on the [E] chain.
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