May Day in London, first day of socialism

In place of the traditional marches, demonstrators walk in groups

Following the home secretary’s ban on political processions

They converge on Nelson’s Column for a meeting of the London Trades Council

Thousands pack Trafalgar Square. Neutral Sunday sightseers, trade unionists

And veterans of the first May Day rally fifty-nine years ago

Then the trouble starts: communists try to march down the Strand and into Trafalgar Square

While mounted police bar the way

At the meeting itself, all is comparatively peaceful

No eggs this time, no tomatoes and no Harry Pollitt

Back in, the communists attempt a procession

This time towards their own meeting, a few hundred yards away

Ugly scenes disturb the peace of London

Fists are clenched, and hammer and sickle banners torn down

The ultimate verdict: what a waste of a lovely spring day

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

Wake up, wake up, gentle lions

Shake your chains to earth like all the hard rain

The city keeps it falling, soaking into our manes

You know the place we’re going

Arise, arise, ye starlings

Get up, stumble out of sleep my darlings

In fevered murmuration, the thunder on the hill

It’s time to gather

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

The night was long and it was lonely

So many times I thought you’d come to join me

But when I called the question, I only heard the echo

What do we want?

Oh, if I had a hammer

I’d smash it down just close enough to wake ye

To the dark skies and the sirens, the screens repeating violence

In a giddy silence

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

As I arrived this morning

Another world lay in the square and purring

Pawing at the pavements, the big cats lie there waiting

Watching the ravens

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side are you on?

Which side are you on, which side?