So here's the thing: a great many folks in the IWW were hoboes. Folks riding the rails, looking for work, finding chicken-feed pay for rough conditions, talking to each other and complaining, were a huge portion of the IWW. The "one big union" approach works a lot better for migrant workers than the Trade Union approach. (And speaking as a member of a trade union myself, I think the IWW approach works better for settled workers too.) Which means that a lot of the old union singalongs are going to involve hobo songs, like Big Rock Candy Mountain, as written by Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock...and, as you can see here, "Hallelujah I'm a Bum", also written by McClintock.
To the tune of "Revive us Again":
Rejoice and be glad, for the springtime has come
We can throw down our shovels and
go on the bumHallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah,
give us a handoutTo revive us again
The springtime has come and I'm
just out of jailWithout any money, without any bail
Hallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
I went to a house and I rapped on the door
And the lady says, "bum, bum, you've been here before"
Hallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
I like Jim Hill, he's a good friend of mine
That is why I am hiking down
Jim Hill's main lineHallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
I went to a house and I asked for some bread
And the lady says, "bum, bum, the baker is dead"
Hallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
Why don't you work like other men do
Now,
how can I work when there's no work to do?Hallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
Why don't you save all the money you earn?
If I didn't eat, I'd have money to burnHallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
I don't like work and work don't like me
And that is the reason I am so hungry
Hallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again
And for your listening pleasure, the song sung by Haywire Mac himself! And as always, one by Utah Phillips. And one by Barbara Dane, with lyrics updated for the late 1960s.