‘The Value of Music in I.W.W. Meetings’ by James Wilson from Industrial Union Bulletin. Vol. 2 No. 12. May 16, 1908.

The use and value of music is one of the oldest and best known factors in influencing the human mind and moving men to action.

What tribe or nation of men, from the original savage to the “civilized” man of today, has not been swayed and stirred by the almost all-compelling power of harmony, rude or cultivated?

The cradle-song of the mother lulls the baby of the barbarian and soothed us ourselves when still infants. The wild war drum roused the hordes who overthrew Rome; the martial band and the fiery bugle incite the brother-murdering armies of the modern capitalist state. The indescribable powers of music are thus effectual alike for good and evil.

Can we, as Industrial Unionists, afford entirely to ignore the scientific study of this mighty auxiliary in our task of stimulating and rousing the lethargy and indifference of the down-trodden and well nigh hopeless mass of the working class?

It is said that the Marseillaise Hymn won all the battles of the French Revolution, from the epoch-making battle of Valmy to the last one of the brilliant military successes of Napoleon.

To avail ourselves of the weapons and arms of the enemy has always been part of successful generalship, even as the very form of our organization is adapted to meet the organized enemy, the capitalist class.

Now, as to a practical application in a small way of the use of music at our meetings. Here in Spokane, for the past two or three months at our agitation meetings, we have had a few songs by some of the fellow workers. It is really surprising how soon a crowd will form on the street to hear a song in the interest of the working class, familiar as they are with the maudlin sentimental music of the various religionists. One song in particular, which appeared in The Bulletin not long ago, “Hallelujah, I’m a Bum!” is now being sung not only here, but also in the surrounding towns and camps by those who, having heard it here, are now scattered after the deplorable “job.” This song is not scientific in the strict sense, but it is not without its effect in keeping alive “the holy flame of discontent.’

I cannot but think that with vocal and instrumental music of perhaps a higher order, and with loftier expression of the striving of the worker for better and fuller life, we will be gratified with the results, and that some real musician will yet give the Industrial Workers of the World its own. Marseillaise!

Hear what the bourgeois historian, Lamartine says of this splendid song: “The words were sung in notes alternately flat and sharp, which seemed to come from the breast with sullen mutterings of anger, and then with the joy of victory.

“The notes of this air rustled like a flag dipped in blood, still recking in the battle plain. It made one tremble, but it was the shudder of fearlessness which passed over the heart and gave an impulse-redoubled strength-veiled death! It was the fire-water of the Revolution, which instilled into the senses and soul of the people the intoxication of battle.” Let us make useful to the movement the powerful influence of music now. and in the days shortly to come, when enlightened and high enthusiasm will be so much needed, supported and upheld and guided by the class-consciousness without which enthusiasm is so easily and so miserably turned to our harm.

Fellow workers, give this your thought. The old sailor says, “A good song is worth ten men.” And last of all, this largely meets the requirement of the physician in regard to a medicine-it does no harm.

JAMES WILSON, Local No. 222.

Spokane, Wash.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iub/v2n12-may-16-1908-iub.pdf