Joe Hill (song)
| "Joe Hill" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Released | 1936 |
| Genre | Folk |
| 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]
Reception
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
- The Dubliners released a version of the song on their 1970 album Revolution. It was later released as part of the Definitive Luke Kelly Collection in 2010.
- Paul Robeson released the song on his albums Songs of Free Men (1943),[5] Paul Robeson: Favorite Songs (1959) and the live album Paul Robeson at Carnegie Hall (1959)
- Joan Baez performed the song at the Woodstock music festival in 1969 and later included it in her album, One Day at a Time[6][7]
- On International Workers' Day in 2014, at Tampa, Florida, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band opened their show with a cover of the song.[8]
- Billy Bragg released a modified version in 1990 called "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night" about the prolific protest singer from the 1960's.[9]
- The High Kings performed a faster, more upbeat cover of the song while on tour in 2011 and later included it in their album, Live in Ireland.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Joe Hill". Song of America. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 27 March 1943. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "One Day at a Time". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Billy Bragg - The Internationale Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-06-03
