Know When to Move - John McCutcheon

I remember when I was a little kid meeting Daddy 'neath the 3-M lights

And I’d ride home on his shoulders through those hot New Jersey nights

And he always told when I got old that I would work there too

Now twenty years on the line and in two weeks time they’re telling me I am

through

Now, you don’t have to tell me that times are bad and there’s trouble all around

And I’m glad my Daddy never lived to see what’s happening to this town

But I turned on the news just this morning and it gave me chills to see

Some 3-M workers in South Africa walking off their jobs for me

You go to know when to move

You go to know when to stand

You got to know when to follow

When to take command

Well, you gotta know how to recognize

Your story when you hear it

From just the other side of the railroad tracks

Or an ocean away from here

Now, I’ve never been much for politics and I’ve kept my nose real clean

But, you know, that just this morning I’ve been changed by what I’ve seen

'Cause the people in the next town over don’t seem to give a damn

While some folks living off in slavery risk their lives to take my stand

You go to know when to move

You go to know when to stand

You got to know when to follow

When to take command

Well, you gotta know how to recognize

Your story when you hear it

From just the other side of the railroad tracks

Or an ocean away from here

From the graveyards in Soweto to the Freehold chimney stacks

There’s chains upon the factory gates and there’s chains upon the backs

And ain’t it strange how people change when they find they’re not alone

It’ll make you strong just to hear your song ten thousand miles from home

You go to know when to move

You go to know when to stand

You got to know when to follow

When to take command

Well, you gotta know how to recognize

Your story when you hear it

From just the other side of the railroad tracks

Or an ocean away from here