The Union Way chords by Ted Egan

SimplifiedG · C · F

GuitarPianoUkulele

Verse 1
G 
C 
In the year 1840,
our weight was a pound,
G 
for each hundred sheep that we shorn.
But then all the squatters decided
that they would determine
our rates evermore.
C 
And by the year 1880,
with our rates again cut,
G 
like the seventy and six for a ton,
Thousands of shearers began to unite
C 
And the long, fight had begun
So three cheers for Dave Temple
Hurray for Bill Spence
G 
Up with the unions we say
We'll form the squad camps
C 
G 
for we are the shearers
C 
We shear the union way, hey, hey, hey
G 
C 
We shear the union way
The squatters declared
they were just not prepared
G 
To talk with mere working chaps
So they called out the army,
enlisted the scabs
C 
And of course they controlled the traps
Our leaders were tried, stuck into jail
G 
For conspiracy, riot and treason
F 
C 
An old Justice party,
G 
C 
G 
and Ranky, and Tozer,
C 
said shearers would be open season
So, three guns for Tozer,
woo -hoo, you're ranking,
G 
down with the squatters, we say
F 
G 
Down with Judge Harding,
the cops and their scams,
C 
we'll shear the Union way,
hey, hey, hey
G 
C 
We'll shear the Union way
John Darien's wool was
declared to be black,
so the big Ninety strike was
G 
on Mark Holden,
C 
G 
Claremont, the Rockhampton trials,
C 
and all of our leaders were gone
In the short term they won,
that made us unite,
G 
and one thing is certain today
C 
G 
From the year 1890,
while sheep are still shorn,
C 
We'll shear in the Union Way.
So, three cheers for Jack Howe!
Hooray! Hooray!
Hooray!
G 
And up with the unions we say!
C 
G 
Down with the squatters,
C 
G 
we are the shearers,
C 
We shear the Union Way!
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
G 
C 
We shear the Union Way! you