Keep the home fires burning

While Papa's earning the pittance he calls his pay

You've got to get up so early in the morning

To keep your job, let alone find one these days



Hear them sing in the streets now

Hear the sound of marching feet now



Chorus:

Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all -- we need to work to be

Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all -- there's a jobless army in the streets

Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all -- in a wage, a hidden war

Sifun'umsebenzi -- funumsebenzi





Papa sits alone in the kitchen

Thirty years a mining man

He still has to fight for the right to work

Whether times are good or bad



Hear them sing in the streets now

Hear the sound of marching feet now



Chorus



Sifun'umsebenzi -- wo thina sifun'umsebenzi

We need work for all

Hum o hum



Chorus



Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all --

we need to work to be

Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all --

so many mouths at home to feed

Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all --

in a wage a hidden war

Sifun'umsebenzi -- work for all --

oh a jobless army at my door

Sifun'umsebenzi -- funumsebenzi

wo thina sifun'umsebenzi



We need work for all

We want work for all

We need work to be

Give us work for all--

Give us work to be