Life, 1901-12-12 · page 9 of 20
Life — December 12, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Iron Worker" - Life Magazine, Page 515 This page features a poem celebrating working-class heroes, specifically industrial and manual laborers. The large illustration depicts a chaotic New York City scene teeming with various workers and urban activity. The poem, attributed to Maurice Brown Kirby, glorifies "the iron worker" and other laborers—farmers, sailors, cowboys—as society's true heroes. It contrasts their genuine courage and sacrifice with the decorations and recognition given to military figures. The refrain "We're killed; but we seldom ever die" emphasizes how workers' contributions are undervalued compared to soldiers', despite comparable danger. The satirical point: working-class laborers deserve the same respect and honor as decorated war heroes, yet society overlooks their essential contributions and daily risks to life and limb.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1 not La BUILDING I WILL BZ OCCUPIED IKf(Z By ae Giro COLLAR BUTTON Stes Nass we ca wa Wig The Iron Worker. FE heard about the sojer au’ his gun, We've heard about the farmer an’ his plough, We've heard about the sailor an’ his fan, We've heard about the cowboy an’ his cow; Now, as long as singin’ heroes is the style, An’ ifno one takes exception to my rhyme, T'il have a bit to say, ina humble sort 0’ way, On a hero who's been workin’ overtime. The song he sings is “Clang! clang! clang!” The tune he plays is ‘Bang! bang! bang!” His motto 1s“ We're killed ; but we seldom ever die.” An’ his motto often gits him ina gang. Did you ever see him settin’ on a beam, With nothin’ to grab hold of but the air, So tur above yer head it made him seem Likeacrazy kid that wouldo’'t take a dare? ANY DAY IN NEW York. Did you se to think about the risk, How Death is always glarin’ in his Just contemplate a bit an’, Ml bet y admit A battlefield’s a durn sight safer place. cat ©, you'll He doesn’t wear no purty stripes nor bars, We haven't struck a medal for him yet, His only decorations scars, He's a hero that the public never met. When his motto comes an’ ketches him for good, An’ rubs his number off the pay-day list, ‘There's a husky, sun-browned mob standin’ by to take his job, his wife an’ kids, he’s never missed. An’, ‘The daily papers have a lot to say On the nervy cops an’ firemen ‘round the cuty, 0" how they risk theie lives most every day An’ very otten lose ’em, more’s the pity; But a little histia’ injine on a spree Is bad as any fire as ever raged, An’ there's more black, willful murder in a careless swingin’ girder Than in any thug the coppers ever caged. So when you've had yer song an’ drink an’ shout, An’ every single hero's got his due, When ye're scatterin’ the Jaurel wreath about; If you chance to have a extry leaf or two, An’ ye're lookin’ for a hero sure enough, A sojer man in Progress’ foremost ranks, Crown the man who builds our vessels, bridges, buildin’s, towers an’ trestles, Grasp his hand, drink his health, an’ give him ths The song he sings is “Clang! clang! clang!” The tune he plays is “Bang! bang! bang!” His motto is" We're killed ; but we seldom ever die.” An’ his motto often gits him in a gang. Maurice Brown Kuby.