A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)

[Page Stephens]

Ballad For Americans was written by Earl Robinson whom I met many years ago.

He was a leftist composer, and his most famous song was "I Dreamed I Saw Joe
Hill Last Night" which goes:

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
Page Stephens

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 6:24 PM
Subject: Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)


> ---------------------- Information from the mail
> header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: A Diller, A Dollar (1955) (continued)
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Everything I write appears to be written from the left as well, unless I'm
> doing boustrophedon.
>
> Oh, I see. Political left.
>
> JL
>
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