Links On The Chain — Phil Ochs
Chords and lyrics for Links On The Chain by Phil Ochs (key of G).
Intro
[A] [C] [D] [A]
[A] [C] [D] [A]
Verse 1
[A]Come you ranks of labor, [C]come you [D]union [A]core[A][C]
[A]And see if you remember the [C]struggles [D]of [A][C]before[A]
When [A]you were standing [F#m]helpless on the [D]outside of the [E]door[E7]
And you [Bm]started [E]building [E7]links on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain,
And you[Bm] started building [E][E7]links on the [A]chain.
Verse 2
[A]When the police on the horses were [C]waitin' [D]on [A][C]demand[A]
[A]Ridin' through the strike with a [C]pistol [D]in [A]their [C]hand[A]
[A]Swingin' at the [F#m]skulls of [D]many a union [E]man[E7]
As you [Bm]built one more [E][E7]link on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain,
As you [Bm]built one more [E][E7]link on the [A]chain.
Verse 3
[A]Then the army of the fascists tried to[C] put you[D] on the[A] [C]run[A]
[A]But the army of the union, they [C]did what [D]could be [A][C]done[A]
Oh, the [A]power of the [F#m]factory was [D]greater than the [E]gun[E7]
As you [Bm]built one more [E][E7]link on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain
As you [Bm]built one more [E][E7]link on the [A]chain.
Verse 4
[A]And then in 1954, [C]decisions [D]finally [A][C]made[A]
[A]Oh, the black man was a-risin' fast, [C]racin' [D]from the [A][C]shade[A]
And your [A]union took no [F#m]stand and your [D]union was [E]betrayed[E7]
As you [Bm]lost yourself a [E][E7]link on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain
As you [Bm]lost yourslef a [E][E7]link on the [A]chain.
Verse 5
[A]And then there came the boycotts and [C]then the [D]freedom [A][C]rides[A]
[A]And forgetting what you stood for, you [C]tried to [D]block the [A][C]tide[A]
Oh, the [A]automation [F#m]bosses werre [D]laughin' on the [E]side[E7]
As they [Bm]watched you [E]lose your [E7]link on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain
As they [Bm]watched you lose your [E][E7]link on the [A]chain.
Verse 6
[A]You know when they block your trucks boys, by [C]layin' [D]on the [A][C]road[A]
[A]All that they are doin' is [C]all that [D]you have [A][C][A]showed
That you [A]gotta strike, you [F#m]gotta fight to [D]get what you are [E][E7]owed
When you're [Bm]building all your [E][E7]links on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain
When you're [Bm]building all your [E][E7]links on the [A]chain..
Verse 7
[A]Amd the man who tries to tell you that they'll [C]take your [D]job [A][C]away[A]
[A]He's the same man who was scabbin' hard [C]just the [D]other [A][C]day[A]
And your [F#m]union's not a union till he's [D]thrown out of the [E]way
And he's [Bm]chokin' on your [E][E7]links of the [A]chain, of the [F#m]chain
And he's [Bm]chokin' on your[E] [E7]links of the[A] chain.
Verse 8
[A]For now the times are tellin' you the [C]times are [D]rollin' [A][C]on[A]
[A]And you're fighting for the same thing, the [C]jobs that [D]will be [A][C]gone[A]
Now it's [A]only fair to [F#m]ask you boys, [D]which side are you [E]on?[E7]
As you're [Bm]buildin' all your [E][E7]links on the [A]chain, on the [F#m]chain
As you're [Bm]buildin' all your [E][E7]links on the [A][D]chain.[A]
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