"The Hand THat Holds the Bread"" (1874)
Words and Music by
George Frederick Root (1820-1895)
[the words were also printed in "The Prairie Farmer",
May 3, 1873, p. 139]

Cincinnati: John Church & Co.
Chicago: Geo. F. Root & Sons, 288 Wabash Avenue
[also, 109 State St, Chicago]
[Source: pp. 6-7 from
"The Trumpet of Reform: 
A Collection
of Songs, Hymns, Chants and Set Pieces
for
The Grange, the Club
and All
Industrial & Reform Organizations.
by George F. Root.
Assisted in the preparation of the words by
Mrs. S. M. Smith.;
photocopy supplied curtesy of the 
Wisconsin Historical Society,
Headquarters Building, 816 State St.,
Madison, WI 53706-1482]
[NOTE: also published "in sheet form, with prelude
and accomp., by Geo. F. Root & Sons,
109 State St. Chicago.]

1. Brothers of the plow,
  The power is with you;
The world in expectation waits
  For action prompt and true.
Oppression stalks abroad;
  Monopolies abound;
Their giant hands already clutch
  The tillers of the ground.

CHORUS [sung after each VERSE]
Awake! then, awake!
  The great world must be fed,
And Heaven gives the power
  To the _hand that holds the bread_;
Yes! brothers of the plow,
  The people must be fed,
And Heaven gives the power
  To the _H_AND THAT HOLDS THE BREAD.

2. Brothers of the plow!
  In calm and quiet might
You've waited long and patiently
  For what was yours by right;
A fair reward for toil;
  A free and open field;
An honest share for wife and home
  Of what your harvests yield.

3. Brothers of the plow,
  Come, rally once again;
Come, gather from the prairie wide,
  The hillside and the plain;
Not, as in days of yore,
  With trump of battle’s sound,
But come and make the world respect
  The tillers of the ground.