1888
Come Gather, O People
| Tune: | Hearts of Oak |
| Lyrics: | Edith Nesbit |
Come gather, O People, for soon is the hour
When princes must fall with their pomp and their power;
For the power of the Future, we know it shall be
A People united and sworn to be free.
Firm and fast we will stand,
Heart to heart, hand in hand!
In fair or foul weather,
Brothers together—
A People united and sworn to be free.
Come sharpen your wits—for our tongues are our swords
To fight all our foes whether Commons or Lords—
Our tongues shall speak truly, whatever the cost,
And when clean are the weapons no fight can be lost
Firm and fast, &c.
Our war-cry is “Freedom”—and those who withstand
That cry have no place in our conquering band,
We strive for her sake from the cradle to grave,
’Tis Freedom we fight for and Freedom we’ll have
Firm and fast, &c.
Notable for both its author, the famous children’s novelist, and its tune, a 129-year-old patriotic ode to the Royal Navy, this socialist song is exemplary of those produced by the early Fabians. It uses its rousing establishment tune to exhort ‘the people’ to unite as ‘brothers’ and fight with ‘wits’ and ‘tongues’ against that establishment – the monarchy and an insufficiently democratic parliament – in the name of freedom.
| Cause: | Socialist | Republican | Collectivist |
| Theme: | Political Process |
| Addressed to: | The People |
| Target of Protest: | The Ruler | Elected Representatives |
| Proposal/Solution: | Organisation | Republicanism |