I remember the wars
Back in 1974, workplace safety in its infancy.
Our movement was young,
The earth children who knew we were one, still a small minority.
Karen made the noise
Shined a light on the boardroom boys, in a chemical company.
She held her ground,
Wouldn’t let ‘em run the truth out of town;
She didn’t run from the enemy.
She raised a sword
Pointed it toward the sworn enemies of life.
She fought for good, like the rest of us should.
She gave us her life – SISTER SILKWOOD

Up against their might, Karen put up one hell of a fight,
To expose the dangers that the workers faced.
In ages still dark, like a modern-day Joan of Arc,
Led the charge for safety in the work place.
Union sister,
Human resister, a real thorn in their side.
Fighting for good, like the rest of us should,
She gave us her life – SISTER SILKWOOD.

[Bridge] They poisoned her body, invaded her home,
Violated every right known.
Her co-workers said she would end up dead,
But she just did what she had to – she told the truth.

Karen’s come and gone,
But her legacy lingers on, lost between the pages of our history.
Her life went by so fast,
Like the sand in the hourglass; her cause was no mystery.
She raised her sword
And pointed it toward – the sworn enemies of life.
She fought for good
Like the rest of us should; she gave us her life – SISTER SILKWOOD

Words & Music:
Mike Stout, April 1991