Vote Yes on Question One...I Fucking Dare You

'Is not the very beginning of privilege, monopoly and industrial slavery this erecting of the ballot-box above the individual?'

Benjamin Tucker 1889

So with the polls opening in about seven and a half hours, I thought I should post a compilation of different versions of L'Internationale. Soon enough we'll have a different celebrity sitting in the same office making the same mistakes. So this is my last feeble attempt to try to convince anyone that we can make a bigger statement by all abstaining from the vote, than by voting. Let's all get up and do something for once. 26% of the country feels we're going in the right direction; what are you doing to change it? If we boycott this broken electoral process we force those in power to reconsider but by buying into this over advertised reality show we call the election we allow the powerful to assume that all is well. And it most certainly is not. Anywhoo...this complilation has six tracks in three languages.

1. The original French version of L'International
2. A Billy Bragg version from 1990
3. A slightly different English version sung by the Sheffiel Socialist Choir
4. From 1933 Mark Blitzstein & The New Singers
5. The version used by the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party
and lastly 6. The Cuban Version.

Lyrics:

French lyrics	Literal English translation
First stanza
Debout, les damnés de la terre Debout, les forçats de la faim La raison tonne en son cratère C'est l'éruption de la fin Du passé faisons table rase Foules, esclaves, debout, debout Le monde va changer de base Nous ne sommes rien, soyons tout |: C'est la lutte finale Groupons-nous, et demain L'Internationale Sera le genre humain :|	Arise, wretched of the earth Arise, convicts of hunger Reason thunders in its volcano This is the eruption of the end Of the past let us wipe the slate clean Masses, slaves, arise, arise The world is about to change its foundation We are nothing, let us be all |: This is the final struggle Let us gather together, and tomorrow The Internationale Will be the human race :|
Second stanza
Il n'est pas de sauveurs suprêmes Ni Dieu, ni César, ni tribun Producteurs, sauvons-nous nous-mêmes Décrétons le salut commun Pour que le voleur rende gorge Pour tirer l'esprit du cachot Soufflons nous-mêmes notre forge Battons le fer quand il est chaud |: C'est la lutte finale Groupons-nous, et demain L'Internationale Sera le genre humain :|	There are no supreme saviours Neither God, nor Caesar, nor tribune. Producers, let us save ourselves Decree the common welfare That the thief return his plunder, That the spirit be pulled from its prison Let us fan the forge ourselves Strike the iron while it is hot |: This is the final struggle Let us stand together, and tomorrow The Internationale Will be the human race :|
Third stanza
L'état comprime et la loi triche L'impôt saigne le malheureux Nul devoir ne s'impose au riche Le droit du pauvre est un mot creux C'est assez, languir en tutelle L'égalité veut d'autres lois Pas de droits sans devoirs dit-elle Egaux, pas de devoirs sans droits |: C'est la lutte finale Groupons-nous, et demain L'Internationale Sera le genre humain :|	The state represses and the law cheats The tax bleeds the unfortunate No duty is imposed on the rich 'Rights of the poor' is a hollow phrase Enough languishing in custody Equality wants other laws: No rights without obligations, it says, And as well, no obligations without rights |: This is the final struggle Let us stand together, and tomorrow The Internationale Will be the human race :|
Fourth stanza
Hideux dans leur apothéose Les rois de la mine et du rail Ont-ils jamais fait autre chose Que dévaliser le travail Dans les coffres-forts de la bande Ce qu'il a créé s'est fondu En décrétant qu'on le lui rende Le peuple ne veut que son dû. |: C'est la lutte finale Groupons-nous, et demain L'Internationale Sera le genre humain :|	Hideous in their self-glorification Kings of the mine and rail Have they ever done anything other Than steal work? Into the coffers of that lot, What work creates has melted In demanding that they give it back The people wants only its due. |: This is the final struggle Let us stand together, and tomorrow The Internationale Will be the human race :|
Fifth stanza
Les rois nous saoulaient de fumées Paix entre nous, guerre aux tyrans Appliquons la grève aux armées Crosse en l'air, et rompons les rangs S'ils s'obstinent, ces cannibales A faire de nous des héros Ils sauront bientôt que nos balles Sont pour nos propres généraux |: C'est la lutte finale Groupons-nous, et demain L'Internationale Sera le genre humain :|	The kings make us drunk with their fumes, Peace among ourselves, war to the tyrants! Let the armies go on strike, Guns in the air, and break ranks If these cannibals insist On making heroes of us, Soon they will know our bullets Are for our own generals |: This is the final struggle Let us stand together, and tomorrow The Internationale Will be the human race :|
Sixth stanza
Ouvriers, paysans, nous sommes Le grand parti des travailleurs La terre n'appartient qu'aux hommes L'oisif ira loger ailleurs Combien, de nos chairs se repaissent Mais si les corbeaux, les vautours Un de ces matins disparaissent Le soleil brillera toujours. |: C'est la lutte finale Groupons-nous, et demain L'Internationale Sera le genre humain :|	Labourers, peasants, we are The great party of workers The earth belongs only to men The idle will go reside elsewhere How much of our flesh they feed on, But if the ravens and vultures Disappear one of these days The sun will always shine |: This is the final struggle Let us stand together, and tomorrow The Internationale Will be the human race :|

Enjoy!