ATDDTA (8) What Joe Hill Calls Organize (216:38-39)

[Joseph T]

On May 6, 2007, at 3:40 AM, Joseph T wrote:

>
> On May 4, 2007, at 11:21 PM, Keith wrote:
>
>> from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hill
>>
>> Hill was executed by firing squad on November 19, 1915, and his  
>> last word was "Fire!" Just prior to his execution, he had written  
>> to Bill Haywood, an IWW leader, saying, "Don't waste any time in  
>> mourning. Organize."
>>
>
> Thanks Keith for bringing out this reference to Joe Hill. This  
> clicked in a big way for me.
> I think Joe Hill is the prime historical character  around which  
> Webb's life is built.  and though Webb has very little charisma and  
> is more a a follower of union resistance than a leader, he also  
> attains a legendary and unkillable status. The fact that Hill  was  
> a miner and was killed in Utah on trumped up charges and that he  
> became a legend and a a kind of anarchist Christ figure is summed  
> up in the famous song about him
> I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night  Lyrics Alfred Hayes, music  
> Earl Robinson
>
> 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" said he,
> "I never died" said 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.
> Says Joe "What they can never kill
> went on to organize,
> went on to organize"
> From San Diego up to Maine,
> in every mine and mill,
> where working-men defend their rights,
> it's there you find Joe Hill,
> it's there you find Joe Hill!
> 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" said he,
> "I never died" said he.
>
> It is interesting that the reference in ATD  to Joe Hill's call not  
> to mourn his death but organize is historically  premature. I see  
> Webb's children as filling out various responses to a Joe Hill type  
> life.
>
> karmic children of Hill Include first and foremost Woody Guthrie,  
> but also Carl Sandburg, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez,  
> Hudie Ledbetter, Paul Robeson, Sy Cohn, Neil Young, Billy Bragg and  
> Pynchon's friends Richard and Mimi Farina.
>
> To me Webb's children  don't so much live out  the troubadour role,  
> but are more like the figures that appear in their songs.

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