This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada, which closed in 2021.

May Day Music: 15 Songs For Working Class Heroes Everywhere (VIDEO)

May Day Music: 15 Songs For Working Class Heroes
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: People march for immigrant workers rights as part of May Day rallies on May 1, 2013 in New York City. Rallies and marches are taking place throughout the city today to mark the day traditionally associated with workers movements. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: People march for immigrant workers rights as part of May Day rallies on May 1, 2013 in New York City. Rallies and marches are taking place throughout the city today to mark the day traditionally associated with workers movements. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

It's May 1, which means throughout the world many countries and cultures are celebrating some form of May Day, a day meant to honour working people everywhere.

For many this means a dance around the maypole. Alternately, if you're Christian and you're the sort who endorses co-opting pagan holidays, today is about the solemnity of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of workers.

In Sweden, today is International Workers' Day, in Ireland they're lighting bonfires, in Finland they're eating doughnuts and drinking some booze called sima, and in New Westminster, British Columbia they'll be partying it up in the same way they've been doing since 1870 in the longest continually observed May Day celebration in the British Commonwealth.

Most Americans won't be backing May Day, however. Instead they'll be saluting "Law Day," because honouring workers is, like, super socialist.

Regardless of how one decides to mark the occasion, it's going to need music. So we tracked down 15 anthems for working class heroes and made a video playlist of them, kicking off with Kool Moe Dee's classic "I Got To Work."

Click below to watch the videos. Happy May Day.

May Day rally - London

15 May Day Songs For Working Class Heroes

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.