OLD BOLSHEVIK SONG lyrics

When I was a lad in 1906

I joined the band of Bolsheviks

So I read the Manifesto and Das Capital

And I even learned to sing The Internationale

(And he even learned to sing The International)

And I sang that song with a ring so true

That now I’m in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo

(And he sang that song with a ring so true

That now he’s in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo)

When Lenin’s boys the insurrection made

I found myself on the barricade

On Kerensky’s troops I turned my gun

And I didn’t stop shooting till the reds had won

(And we didn’t stop shooting till the reds had won)

And I fired that gun with an aim so true

That now I’m in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo

(And he fired that gun with an aim so true

That now he’s in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo)

When NEP was started and Lenin died

I found myself on Trotsky’s side

All went well till 28

And then I was forced to capitulate

(And then he was forced to capitulate)

And my capitulation had a ring so true

That now I’m in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo

(And his capitulation had a ring so true

That now he’s in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo)

From then till now I’ve had no peace

My steps have been dogged by the secret police

I denounced the Opposition time and again

I denounced the Opposition with tongue and pen

(He denouced the Opposition with tongue and pen)

And my denunciation had a ring sot true

That now I’m in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo

(And his denunciation had a ring son true

That now he’s in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo)

Now diversionists all wherever you may be

If you want to do as well as me

Confess to revolution and espionage

To wrecking railroads and sabotage

(To wrecking railroads and sabotage)

Adhere to the line of Lenin too

And you’ll end up in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo

(Adhere to the line of Lenin too

And you’ll end up in the prisons of the Gay-Pay-Oo)

• Artist:Joe Glazer