WE JUST COME TO WORK HERE
(WE DON'T COME TO DIE)
Harry Stamper
Sung by Harry Stamper



Harry Stamper is a retired longshoreman,
union activist, and songwriter from Coos Bay, Oregon.

Well I’ve been working here for fifteen years
and I’ve seen some changes come.
I’ve seen some Okies called Californians,
I’ve seen some poets called bums.
I’ve seen people working for safety,,
there must be a reason why.
Maybe we just come to work here,
We don’t come to die.

Chorus:
“Cause if it’s always level on the floor where you’re working
and your telephone is OSHA approved
When you tell me how much you’re spending on safety,
pardon me if I’m not moved.
Ever since 1970 the law has been on my side.
And I just come to work here, I don’t come to die.

I would like to end up with all of my fingers,
I don’t want my brain to get numb
I would like to have my ears when retirement nears,
I wanna hear that applause come.
And I’d like to see my grand-children....
Be able to pick them up when they cry.
That’s why I just come to work here, I don’t come to die.

Now I’ll be the pitcher, and you can be the batter—
you know that’s just the old ball game.
But when the line starts popping and that load starts dropping,
our situations not he same.
And I’m not saying that you don’t care........
I’m not saying that you don’t try
I’m saying we just come to work here....
We don’t come to die.

Now you and I know that the things that aren’t code
could be fixed with relative ease.
But we never did get anything by asking on our knees.
So now we’re looking you straight in the eye.
Shoulder to shoulder and side by side.
We’re saying we just come to work here .....
we don’t come to die.
We’re saying we just come to work here MISTER!
We don’t come to die.

Pacific Nothwest Folklore Society