Joe Hill

1. 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," says he, 
"I never died," says he.

2. "In Salt Lake, Joe, by God," 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."

3. "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."

4. 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."

5. "Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me,
"Joe Hill ain't never died.
Where workingmen are out on strike
Joe Hill is at their side, 
Joe Hill is at their side."

6. "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."

Joe Hill was born in Sweden in 1879 as Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, and spent his life fighting for the working class on picket lines, in factories and in song, as an IWW labor organizer and songwriter.  He was executed by firing squad in Utah on November 19, 1915, convicted of a double murder he almost certainly didn't commit.  This song was written in Camp Unity in the summer of 1936 in New York State for a campfire program.