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On the Streets of Copenhagen

from Ballad of a Wobbly by David Rovics

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In 1992 the majority of Danish voters voted against the Maastricht Treaty -- they voted against losing more Danish sovereignty, and giving it to the European Union. In 1993 Danes were given the treaty to vote on again, and a slight majority voted for it. Then the riots started, and the police fired into the crowd, for the first time since World War 2.

lyrics

The treaty was rejected in 1992
Most Danish voters were afraid they already knew
That it would not be a good thing to give away control
To the likes of neoliberals like Mitterand and Kohl
It was voted down, but then in 1993
The vote was held again for the Maastricht Treaty
This time the ruling parties got what they were looking for
And that very night the city sounded like a place at war

On the streets of Copenhagen

The air was full of anger, the reasons for it clear
It had been voted down only just last year
And now we're just supposed to give our sovereignty away
To institutions that don't care what people have to say

On the streets of Copenhagen

Stones flew, windows broke, more than many folks could bear
As the riot cops fired tear gas in the air
Before the night was over, the cops stood right there in that spot
Fired pistols at the crowd – eleven people were shot

On the streets of Copenhagen

When hard-won rights are lost, when ruling parties throw them out
They may pretend to wonder what the riots are about
But anywhere near Norrebro you'd find few who'd disagree
About exactly what happened on that night in 1993

On the streets of Copenhagen

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from Ballad of a Wobbly, released December 11, 2017

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David Rovics Portland, Oregon

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), anarchist, dad, lover of life.

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