William Morris: Chants for Socialists

Until a friend gave me a leaflet for Strawberry Thieves Socialist Choir’s event, William Morris: Chants for Socialists, I had been completely unaware that William Morris, along with designing, writing and political activism, wrote music as well. The music was an extension of the political activism as Morris wrote ‘chants’ to go with the political songs that he wrote. 

On 31 May 2025 at 2.30pm, Strawberry Thieves Socialist Choir will be joined by singer/songwriter Darren Hayman and Florence Boos, editor of the Morris Archive at the University of Iowa for an event devoted to Morris’ songs.  

Strawberry Thieves will be performing six of Morris’ songs which will be introduced by Florence Boos, who is an expert on William Morris. They will also be joined by Darren Hayman who will perform his versions of Voice of Toil and No Master.

The songs performed include A Death Song for Alfred Linnell. This was created for a pamphlet containing an account of the death of Alfred Linnell, who was killed at Trafalgar Square on 20 November 1887 during a protest, when he was trampled by a police horse. The protest became known as the first ‘Bloody Sunday’. Many of the socialists realised that their hopes of a revolution were unrealistic in the face of establishment opposition and force. Many started to look for a reformist, parliamentary way of making change for the nation’s poor and workers. The pamphlet included a death song composed by William Morris and memorial design by Walter Crane, and the proceeds of the pamphlet were given to Linnell’s family. 

What cometh here from west to east awending?

And who are these, the marchers stern and slow?

We bear the message that the rich are sending

Aback to those who bade them wake and know.

Not one, not one, nor thousands must they slay,

But one and all if they would dusk the day.

You can read more about the protest and Morris’ pamphlet at the Cheltenham Museum’s website.

Full details of the Strawberry Thieves event from Facebook.