'I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night'

Ninety-two years ago today Joe Hill was executed by a firing squad in Utah for a murder he almost certainly did not commit.

His last word was "Fire."

Hill was a radical songwriter, labor activist and a Wobblie, but he is best know as the subject of several folk songs, and I have to wonder how many people today have a clue as to who he was and his importance to the American labor movement.

The songs include the haunting "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night," which has been sung by Joe Baez and innumerable other folkies.

The lyrics:

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
"I never died," says he
"In Salt Lake, Joe," says I to him,
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."
"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."
And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, "What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
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,
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,"
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
"I never died," says he