Ce chant est à 4 accords magiques! Il est montré ici dans la transposition originale: en le jouant avec des capo ou en le transposant, vous pouvez le ramener à Am, F, C, G.

Transposer:

[Intro] (Hammer on into each of these chords) x3 [Verse 1] This government had an idea And parliament made it law It seems like it’s illegal To fight for the union any more [Chorus] Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? [Verse 2] We set out to join the picket line For together we cannot fail We got stopped by police at the county line They said "Go home boys or you’re going to jail" [Chorus] Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? [Verse 3] It’s hard to explain to a crying child Why her Daddy can’t go back So the family suffer but it hurts me more To hear a scab say Sod you Jack [Chorus] Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? [Verse 4] I’m bound to follow my conscience And do whatever I can But it’ll take much more than the union law To knock the fight out of a working man [Chorus] Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on? Which side are you on boys? Which side are you on?

La chanson évoque les luttes des travailleurs face à des lois jugées injustes, où se battre pour des droits collectifs semble devenir illégal. Elle raconte l’histoire de ceux qui s’unissent pour défendre leur cause, mais qui rencontrent la répression, symbolisée par les forces de l'ordre qui les empêchent d'avancer. Le texte met aussi en lumière la douleur des familles touchées par des conflits sociaux, illustrant la difficulté d'expliquer aux enfants les conséquences d’une lutte pour la dignité. Ce chant se fait ainsi l'écho d'une question essentielle : face aux injustices, de quel côté se situer lorsqu'il s'agit de défendre ses droits ?