Said I, but Joe, you're a 100 years dead ...

[cesare]

"I never died" says he.

"I never died" says he.



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.
In Salt lake city, Joe says I, in 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 workers fight and organize,
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.

1915: The murder of Joe Hill

And let the merry breezes blow
My dust to where some flowers grow
Perhaps some fading flower then
Would come to life and bloom again.

Don't mourn, organise!

 

[danny la rouge]

I was coming here to post exactly that.

 

[Libertad]

Good little contemporary piece here:

Joe Hill’s living message

 

[tony.c]

I saw the Joe Hill film many years ago. It's worth a watch if you can get it.

 

[cesare]

Good little contemporary piece here:

Joe Hill’s living message

I see from that piece that The Letters Of Joe Hill has been added to, and that a centenary edition is due to be published 17 December

 

[Libertad]

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Joe Hill by Rosemont - AbeBooks

 

[the button]

One of Joe Hill's best-known songs, performed by one of his contemporaries in the IWW, with memories of its first performance.

 

[tony.c]

I saw the Joe Hill film many years ago. It's worth a watch if you can get it.

I have tried to find it. There isn't a dvd and it doesn't seem to be online anywhere. I must have seen it when it came out in 1971. There is a trailer on youtube:

 

[tony.c]

There is a play 'The Joe Hill Dream' by John Fay which has been on in theatres in Liverpool and Manchester over the last week. The last two performances are in Salford tomorrow night, Friday 27 November and Liverpool on Saturday night, 28 November. Details:
Friday 27/11 Salford - JOE HILL PLAY TO BE STAGED IN SALFORD - Salford Star - with attitude & love xxx

Saturday 28/11 Liverpool - The Joe Hill Dream By John Fay, - Liverpool Echo

I hope it comes to London.

 

[tony.c]

I have tried to find it. There isn't a dvd and it doesn't seem to be online anywhere. I must have seen it when it came out in 1971. There is a trailer on youtube:

I've had another look around, and apparently this year the National Library of Sweden has decided to produce a restored and digitally remastered version on DVD, probably because it's the 100th anniversary of Joe Hill's death.
It may take a while before it comes out, but will be distributed by Studio S Entertainment, Stockholm. I will watch out for it's release.

 

[Kaka Tim]

My old bluegrass band with our version of "Rebel Girl" - which Joe Hill wrote for IWW activist Elizabeth Gurly Flynn.

 

[ddraig]

Cymru IWW, a strong and growing branch, had a night in Cardiff on the 19th Nov celebrating Joe Hill

 

[butchersapron]

I've had another look around, and apparently this year the National Library of Sweden has decided to produce a restored and digitally remastered version on DVD, probably because it's the 100th anniversary of Joe Hill's death.
It may take a while before it comes out, but will be distributed by Studio S Entertainment, Stockholm. I will watch out for it's release.

There's been a proper DVD release for ages. The film itself is rubbish. Widerberg did a great film on adelen (and other good no nonsense social realist style things).

 

[Libertad]

My old bluegrass band with our version of "Rebel Girl" - which Joe Hill wrote for IWW activist Elizabeth Gurly Flynn.

I like that. Tune.

 

[tony.c]

There's been a proper DVD release for ages. The film itself is rubbish.

Can you point to where this is available. I have been looking round the internet but can't find it on dvd. There is a mention of a poor bootleg copy having been produced years ago but doesn't seem to be around now.
As for the film, it is over 40 years since I saw it. I thought it was good at the time, but perhaps that was because I was young and idealistic then. But I would like to see it again.

edit: I also saw Adalen 31, back in the 70s and thought that was good too. But iirc that was in Swedish with English subtitles, which I find distracting. One of the good things about the Joe Hill film was that it was in English, and a mainstream film which I saw in an actual cinema.

 

[Buckaroo]

 

[tony.c]

Well the Bo Widerberg film 'Joe Hill' is available on dvd now. I just got a copy from amazon.fr. I only watched the opening sequence and it looks good. Will watch the whole film when I have time. Apart from the first minute or so in Swedish, it is in English with French subtitles.
I
There is a dvd available from the US for $11.99 + postage:
www.rare.movies.biz/inc/sdetail/the_ballad_of_joe-hill/31914

I bought the remastered dvd from malavidafilms through the Amazon France site for 15 Euros + 4.95 Euros postage.



It seems to be available on amazon prime fillms too.

Edit: adalen31 is also available from amazon.fr/malavidafilm too.

 

[ddraig]

surely no self respecting wobbly would order off amazon!?

 

[tony.c]

surely no self respecting wobbly would order off amazon!?

You can order it directly from www.malavidafilms.com for the same price, which would be better as they seem to do alternative/left film dvds. But I didn't know that when I ordered it.