Joe Hill - October 7, 1879 - November 19, 1915

[Swede]

Hill was executed by firing squad on November 19, 1915, and his last word was "Fire!" Just prior to his execution, he had written to Bill Haywood, an IWW leader, saying, "Goodbye Bill. I die like a true blue rebel. Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize... Could you arrange to have my body hauled to the state line to be buried? I don't want to be found dead in Utah.
His will, which was eventually set to music by Ethel Raim, read:

My will is easy to decide
For there is nothing to divide
My kin don't need to fuss and moan
"Moss does not cling to a rolling stone."
My body? - Oh. - If I could choose
I would to ashes it reduce
And let the merry breezes blow
My dust to where some flowers grow
Perhaps some fading flower then
Would come to life and bloom again
This is my Last and final Will
Good Luck to All of you -Joe Hill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hill


Joe Hill

[Walk away]

1. I remember when we were kids we used to sing about him..

at our after dinner sing alongs.

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
alive as you and me.
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" said he,
"I never died" said he.

"The Copper Bosses killed you Joe,
they shot you Joe" says I.
"Takes more than guns to kill a man"
Says Joe "I didn't die"
Says Joe "I didn't die"

"In Salt Lake City, Joe," says I,
Him standing by my bed,
"They framed you on a murder charge,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead."

And standing there as big as life
and smiling with his eyes.
Says Joe "What they can never kill
went on to organize,
went on to organize"

From San Diego up to Maine,
in every mine and mill,
Where working men defend their rights,
it's there you'll find Joe Hill,
it's there you'll find Joe Hill!

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
alive as you and me.
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" said he,
"I never died" said he.

[niyad]

2. glad you haven't died, joe. we need you more than ever.

[leveymg]

3. Joan Baez did a beautiful cover of "I believe I saw Joe Hill" at Woodstock

that I will never forget.

[starroute]

4. Here it is on YouTube

The singing starts a little over a minute in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pJhmnYzGaA

[leveymg]

5. Thanks!

[starroute]

6. I saw Baez at Harvard Stadium just a couple of days after Woodstock

Not quite the same thing, but it was a good performance.