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