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Joe Hill (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Joe Hill"
Song
Released1936 (1936)
GenreFolk
Composer(s)Earl Robinson
Lyricist(s)Alfred Hayes

"Joe Hill", also known as "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night",[1] is a folk song named after labor activist Joe Hill, which was originally written in poem by Alfred Hayes[2] and composed into music by Earl Robinson in 1936.[3] The song recounts a dream in which Joe Hill appears and claims he never died despite being framed for murder and shot by "the copper bosses." He tells the dreamer, “From San Diego up to Maine / In every mine and mill / Where workers strike and organize / It’s there you’ll find Joe Hill."

Reception

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In 2014, the Paul Robeson version of the song was the third-most requested song by British Labour politicians on Desert Island Discs, behind "Jerusalem" and "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", with the song also chosen by then-party leader Ed Miliband.[4]

Covers and adaptations

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References

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  1. ^ Adler, William M. (2011). The Man Who Never Died: The Life, Times, and Legacy of Joe Hill, American Labor Icon. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-60819-285-4.
  2. ^ Mitgang, Herbert (1985-08-15). "ALFRED HAYES, 74, A NOVELIST, POET AND SCREENPLAY WRITER". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  3. ^ "Joe Hill". Song of America. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ Weaver, Matthew; Arnett, George (21 November 2014). "Will Theresa May toe party line on Desert Island Discs?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  5. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 27 March 1943. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  6. ^ Bledsoe, Wayne (16 March 2017). "Shelby Bottom keeps the Joe Hill story alive". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  7. ^ "One Day at a Time". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. ^ Daly, Sean (1 May 2014). "Review: Bruce Springsteen still rocking for all he's worth at 64". Tampa: Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  9. ^ Billy Bragg - The Internationale Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-06-03