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The industrial folk song Die Arbeiter von Wien (The workers of Vienna) was probably written in 1927, when 89 demonstrators were shot and killed in the crowd during the so-called July Revolt in Vienna. The text comes from Fritz Brügel (1897-1955), a Viennese poet and essayist. The tune was taken from the Soviet march White Army, Black Baron (“Белая армия, чёрный барон”, 1920) by Samuel Pokrass (1897–1939).

Story
The song was performed for the first time in 1929 at the 2nd International Workers' Youth Day in Vienna. The song became more widespread in 1934 during and after the Austrian Civil War between exponents of the Austrian labour movement and the Federal State of Austria and their organizations. Above all in Vienna, Styria and Upper Austria, workers rose up spontaneously and without central leadership against Austro-Fascism. Their fight was crushed bloodily, but the song Die Arbeiter von Wien found its way into the international anti-fascist song repertoire.

Lyrics
German (Original language):


 * Wir sind das Bauvolk der kommenden Welt.
 * Wir sind der Sämann, die Saat und das Feld.
 * Wir sind die Schnitter der kommenden Mahd.
 * Wir sind die Zukunft und wir sind die Tat.
 * [Refrain]:
 * So flieg, du flammende, du rote Fahne,
 * voran dem Wege, den wir zieh'n.
 * Wir sind der Zukunft getreue Kämpfer.
 * Wir sind die Arbeiter von Wien.
 * Herr'n der Fabriken, ihr Herren der Welt,
 * Endlich wird eure Herrschaft gefällt.
 * Wir, die Armee, die die Zukunft erschafft,
 * Sprengen der Fesseln engender Haft.
 * [Refrain]
 * Wie auch die Lüge uns schmähend umkreist,
 * Alles besiegend erhebt sich der Geist.
 * Kerker und Eisen zerbricht seine Macht,
 * Wenn wir uns ordnen zur letzten Schlacht.
 * [Refrain]
 * English:
 * We are the builders of the coming world,
 * we are the planter, the seed, and the field.
 * We are the reapers of the coming grass,
 * we are the future and we are the action.
 * [Refrain]:
 * So fly, you flaming, you red flag,
 * before the paths which we pull.
 * We are the faithful fighters of the future.
 * We are the workers of Vienna.
 * Lords of the factories, you lords of the world,
 * finally will your supremacy fall.
 * We, the army that creates the future,
 * demolish the narrow prison of shackles.
 * [Refrain]
 * How too the lie surrounds us disgustingly,
 * overcoming everything, the spirit uplifts itself.
 * Prisons and irons shatter its strength,
 * when we ready ourselves for the last battle.
 * [Refrain]
 * finally will your supremacy fall.
 * We, the army that creates the future,
 * demolish the narrow prison of shackles.
 * [Refrain]
 * How too the lie surrounds us disgustingly,
 * overcoming everything, the spirit uplifts itself.
 * Prisons and irons shatter its strength,
 * when we ready ourselves for the last battle.
 * [Refrain]
 * when we ready ourselves for the last battle.
 * [Refrain]
 * [Refrain]

Literature

 * Karl Adamek: LiederBilderLeseBuch. Elefanten Press, Berlin 1981. ISBN 3-88520-049-X