Battle Hymn of Women

Words by Meredith Tax; Melody, William Steffe (same as "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "John Brown's Body")
Rise Up Singing chapter: Women, p.244
Chords: G - / C G / - GEm / CD G ://
Alternate Chords: G - / C G / - B7Em / CD G ://

Lyrics:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the flame of women’s rage
Kept smoldering for centuries, now burning in this age
We no longer will be prisoners in that same old gilded cage
That’s why we’re marching on

Move on over or we’ll move on over you
Move on over or we’ll move on over you
Move on over or we’ll move on over you
For women’s time has come!

You have told us to speak softly, to be gentle and to smile
Expected us to change ourselves with every passing style
Said the only work for women was to clean and sweep and file
That’s why we’re marching on

It is we who’ve done your cooking, done your cleaning, kept your rules
We gave birth to all your children and we taught them in your schools
We’ve kept the system running but we’re laying down our tools
That’s why we’re marching on

You think that you can buy us off with crummy wedding rings
You never give us half the profit that our labor brings
Our anger eats into us, we no longer bow to kings
That’s why we’re marching on

We have broken through our shackles, now we sing a battle song
We march for liberation and we’re many millions strong
We’ll build a new society, we’ve waited much too long,
That’s why we’re marching on