Here is a part of the protest playlist: "We Shall Overcome." "This Land is Your Land." "If I Had a Hammer." "On, Wisconsin!" People tend to recognize the tunes but not the lyrics.

These songs and others typically gain new meaning during weekday Solidarity Sing Alongs in downtown Madison. Anywhere from 20 to 600 singers gather from noon to 1 p.m. at the State Capitol, either inside at the rotunda or outdoors on the State Street side of the statehouse.

Anyone can participate. Some bring drums or other musical instruments.

The singing in support of workers' rights and progressive politics began March 11, 2011, and continues as a peaceful protest to Gov. Scott Walker's stance regarding collective bargaining. On Nov. 5, the eve of the presidential election, the 500th singalong will be noted with a Peace and Freedom Fest at 1. High Noon Saloon at 7 p.m. Suggested admission is $5; for sale are Solidarity T-shirts to buttons and bumper stickers.

Brandon Barwick says a celebration accompanies every 50th singalong. He is the group's primary organizer and musical conductor, which means he sets the tempo and announces which songs (from a 44-song booklet) will be sung.

Fueled by recall election

The crowd of singers swelled on some days before the failed 2012 attempt to recall the governor from office. “It's all very situational,” Barwick says, regarding daily turnout. Much depends upon current events, local to national.

Small groups of these protestors have accepted invitations to lead protests as far away as Ashland, about 300 miles north of Madison.

Solidarity Sing Along is a part of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, and that's where the group's songbooks can be downloaded. The mission “is to create positive, progressive change through participatory song,” states the group's Facebook page.

“Music is very therapeutic and healing,” Barwick notes. “I believe in what we're doing on so many different levels.”

Who sings?

Changes in meeting location are posted on Facebook and Twitter. Although the music changes daily, singalongs always begin at noon. Within the group are subsets of activists that include the Raging Grannies, Shine Guerrilla Projection Squad and The Parentheticals.

Other singers are average people – people who work nearby, teachers, parents or grandparents with children, artists, tourists – many with no prior history of activism. The group's diversity includes PhDs to homeless people.

Lyrics for all seasons

How do the singers change well-known lyrics? Here's one example, from the group's holiday songbook, written by L. Hart and J. Miner. It is sung to the tune of Good King Wenceslas but called Won’t You March in Our Parade:

“Special interests rule the land,
“One single voice is feeble,
“But together, hand in hand,
“Power to the people!

“Won’t you march in our parade,
“Join the celebration!
“Sing for peace and brotherhood,
“Justice in our nation!”

Professional songsters Lou and Peter Berryman of Madison, whose repertoire of folksy songs are known for their clever lyrics, offer a revision to “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.” Here is a part of it:

“Wisconsin whose motto was 'Forward'
“Was populist as it could be
“But now the new motto is 'Backward'
“Oh, bring back Wisconsin to me.”

Citations issued

Within two months after a new Capitol Police chief began working in August 2012, Barwick received six citations because of the singalongs. The law enforcers issued at least 50 citations for such things as obstruction, disorderly conduct and unlawful displays of signs.

Attorneys working on behalf of the Solidarity Sing Alongs are contending the citations represent an infringement of free speech and freedom of assembly.

Barwick says he doesn't know when the singalongs will end. “We say until Walker is gone,” he says, but court rulings and election results will have an impact.