The following is based on an often inappropriately appropriated misattribution to George Orwell.
Take Warning!
The Rough Ones at the Ready
Stand in the dark, awake
While all the world in unawares
Praise politics to thank
For the advances they denied
Until the heads were pressured-
But not the way, as then as now,
That history remembers!
And when the fire next time comes,
Same old story’s same,
Those deflecting, casting blame
Will all be converts,
When it’s safe and tame-
They’ll reminisce of struggles, oh
Like it was they themselves that fought,
And they’ll credit politicians
For what their dollars bought.
But we who’re ready in the night,
With black garb and with flame
Know a history uncensored
Without shade or shame.
And we who march ‘neath freedom’s wings
Have long memories to boot,
So when the converts give their praise,
We’ll chuckle and we’ll hoot-
For it was we who took the wheel,
When they abandoned ship
And it was we who captained her
Till they came swimming back
With the tempest over,
The sun in sky-so-clear,
Caliban at prayer- oh Setebos!
Peace above and trouble buried,
When everything makes sense again,
Then, go along, they’ll go,
And claim they always had our backs!
But when the waters next time come,
Look at who’s first to flee the deck.
And when they come back,
Hold them up
To what they left, they’ll see
That justice isn’t for the meek,
It’s not for those who wait,
It was there to win,
And was won,
While they, now full of praise,
Did sleep.
That’s why we sing the unions’ hymns
And that’s why we burn flags.
It’s why anyone gets anything,
It’s why there’s no fair fights.
And sometimes, what it takes,
Is rough ones in the night.
For those who sleep at peace in bed,
Could do more than to blame
Those who stand at ready
To wrestle right, from shame.
For nothing came by anyone
Whose natures were so tame.
So we’ll shut down the highways,
We’ll be inconvenient as we please,
Knowing as we’ve always known
That history’s our claim.