DESCRIPTION:
"Bread and Roses is an old labor song," comments Ribot, "associated with the IWW Lawrence Massachusetts textile worker's strike of 1912. The lyrics are based on a poem written by James Oppenheimer. We changed the music, and a few of the lyrics (we figured anarcho/syndicalists wouldn't mind), but the sentiments are the same. When I went to the big demonstration in Foley Square last fall, I saw something different. On TV, labor union people are supposed to hate the kind of young smart-asses who started Occupy, yet here they seemed to be getting along just fine. I felt, for a moment, 'wow, something could actually happen.' I hadn't felt that in quite some time. The other Ceramic Doggies had similar experiences. Then we went on tour, and somehow it felt silly to play our usual set while so much was happening on the street - so we played "Bread and Roses" instead. We don't know what the future holds, but we recorded this tune in honor of the energy of that moment."