"Eight Hours"

Words by I. G. Blanchard; music by Rev. Jesse H. Jones

Originally published in 1878

Reprinted in American Labor Songs of the Nineteenth Century, 1975

Of the many job-related complaints of industrial workers in the late nineteenth century, the most widespread and passionate was over long working hours. In the early days of industrialization, many Americans had expected the new technology would make jobs easier, leaving more leisure time for all. However, in 1890 laborers in manufacturing companies worked an average of sixty hours per week, and it was not uncommon in some trades for workers to put in as many as 100 hours a week at their jobs. In 1900, 70 percent of the nation's industrial laborers worked ten hours or more each day. Some worked seven days a week. Laborers usually took jobs in their teens and continued working until they died or became too ill to continue...