alfred hayes • earl robinson
Police Archive. Link goes to a historical article.
Born in Gävle, Sweden 7th of October 1879, Joe Hill aka Joel Emmanuel Hägglund aka Joseph Hillström emigrated to USA in 1902 and became a labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, also known as the Wobblies). 19th of November 1915 he was executed for murder after a controversial trial ... and 100 years later they still maintain the legend. Most probably the radical swede hobo was the perfect scapegoat for an incompetent judicial system, and a victim to prejudice.
Alfred Hayes wrote this tribute poem around 1930, and 6 years later Earl Hawley Robinson came up with the famous tune. The song has been used and recorded by numerous artists, but most people associate it with Joan Baez - from Woodstock, 1969.
His last poem, later set music to by Ethel Raim, is told to be:
- 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 -
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night
alive as you or me
says I : "but Joe, you're ten years dead"
:/: "I never died" says he :/:
"in Salt Lake, Joe" says I to him
standing by my bed
they framed you on a murder charge
:/: says Joe : "but I ain't dead" :/:
"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" :/:
and standing there as big as life
and smiling with his eyes
Joe says : "what they forgot to kill
:/: went on to organize" :/:
"Joe Hill ain't dead" he says to me
"Joe Hill ain't never died
where working men are out on strike
:/: Joe Hill is at their side" :/:
"from San Diego up to Maine
in every mine and mill
where workers strike and organize"
:/: says he : "you'll find Joe Hill" :/:
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night
alive as you or me
says I : "but Joe, you're ten years dead"
:/: "I never died" says he :/:
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G G7 I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night C G alive as you or me C Bm E7/9 says I : but Joe, you're ten years dead A7 A7+6 D I never died says he D7 G I never died says he
