“The Rebel Girl”, 1915 | Records of Rights

Rebel Girl chorus

‘That’s the Rebel Girl, That’s the Rebel Girl.
To the working class she’s a precious pearl.
She brings courage, pride and joy
To the fighting Rebel Boy
We’ve had girls before, but we need some more
In the Industrial Workers of the World.
For it’s great to fight for freedom
With a Rebel Girl.
The IWW was known for its use of folk music and protest songs to express the concerns and frustrations of the working class. They published “Rebel Girl” in the Little Red Songbook and as sheet music in 1915.

“The Rebel Girl” 1915

Joe Hill had a clever wit and an ear for rhythm. He wrote many folk and protest songs that became popular IWW anthems. This copy of sheet music was seized from the mail under the Espionage Act. “The Rebel Girl” was one of his most popular songs.

National Archives, Records of the Post Office Department