|
Despite being seen as the Liberal Anthem, this actually comes from
the Georgists, followers of Henry George, an American political
thinker who expounded the theory of land value taxation. The
Liberals adopted the song in the General Elections of 1910,
following the rejection by the House of Lords of Lloyd George's 1909
People's Budget. Free Trade was an issue which brought together the
Peelites, Whigs and Radicals and defined the Liberal Party, and also
re-united it after the split between the Lloyd Georgists and the 'Squiffites'.
Just as Europe is today, so it also caused division in the Tories,
both in the age of Peel and at the turn of the century, and, more
recently, led to schisms In the early 1950's between the Little
Englanders and the pro-Europeans.
|
The Glory Days
The Land
(Marching Thro' Georgia)
Sound the call for freedom boys, and sound it far and wide,
March along to victory for God is on our side,
While the voice of Nature thunders o'er the rising tide,
'God gave the land to the people!'
Chorus:
The land, the land, 'twas God who made the land,
The land, the land, the ground on which we stand,
Why should we be beggars with the ballot in our hand?
God made the land for the people.
Hark the sound is spreading from the East and from the West,
Why should we work hard and let the landlords take the best?
Make them pay their taxes on the land just like the rest,
The land was meant for the people
Chorus
Clear the way for liberty, the land must all be free,
Liberals will not falter from the fight, tho' stern it be,
'Til the flag we love so well will fly from sea to sea
O'er the land that is free for the people
Chorus
The army now is marching on, the battle to begin.
The standard now is raised on high to face the battle din,
We'll never cease from fighting 'til victory we win,
And the land is free for the people
Chorus
|
You can now
buy the
Songbook online with Paypal
The 19th edition of the Liberator Song Book
- Old favourites
- Hits from the Liberal Revue
- Campaign songs old and new
Complete with historical notes on the origins of songs...
Only £3 from the Liberator stall at conference or £3.50 (including postage) from:
Liberator Publications
Flat 1
24 Alexandra Grove
London N4 2LF
England
Cheques should be made payable to 'Liberator Publications'. |
