"Don't Stop Believin'"

The following represents the latest in a long series of attempts at rewriting popular music songs to be about academic labor struggles, a series which began way back in 2003 with "Knockin' on Levin's Door." I mean here not to ridicule or diminish the seriousness of what is at stake in our fight, to which i am deeply committed, but rather to add some levity and suggest one potential, if not particularly useful, form cultural production influenced by the strike might take. This particular attempt is inspired by an inexplicable recent fascination with Steve Perry and a desire to create something which, unlike, say, RUN-UOC, can be sung on picket lines. Also deserving of credit is The Revolutionary Army of California, whose inspired cover of the song on which the following is based turned my attentions away from "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" for long enough to write this.


"Don't Stop Believin'"
S. Perry/N. Schon/J. Cain/This Blogger

Banner we'll unfurl,
in this neoliberal world
your threats and intimidation, well we ain't scared.

Fill the city with noise,
our international's in Detroit
We picket decked out in union flair

long meetings in the conference room
more productive than we'd assume
we are united in this fight
It goes on and on and on and on

Strikers chanting,
up and down the picket line
John Sexton cringes at the sight
Striking teachers
fighting for a resolution
fighting, striving for what's right

Their PR flacks are pretty shrill,
and so we struggle still
Follow mother jones' advice,
yeah -- we organize!

Gotta win, can't afford to lose
assure you this ain't no ruse
Yeah the struggle never ends
it goes on and on and on and on

Strikers chanting,
up and down the picket line
John Sexton cringes at the sight
Striking teachers
fighting for a resolution
fighting, striving for what's right

Don't stop Believing
Send john sexton reeling
Striking teachers


[shout outs to Alyssa and to Josh, whose version of "Time after time" was so good that i still think the line "Flashback '84" is in the original.]