Joe Hill, murdered by the Authorities of the State of the Utah, November the 19th, 1915.
High head and back unbending,
fearless and true,
Into the night unending;
why was it you?
Heart that was quick with song
torn with their lead;
Life that was young and strong,
shattered and dead.
Singer of manly songs,
laughter and tears;
Singer of Labor's wrongs,
joys, hopes and fears.
Though you were one of us,
what could we do?
Joe, there was none of us
needed like you.
We gave, however small,
what Life could give;
We would have given all
that you might live.
Your death you held as naught,
slander and shame;
We from the very thought
shrank as from flame.
Each of us held his breath,
tense with despair;
You, who were close to death,
seemed not to care.
White-headed, loathsome power,
knowing no pause,
Sinking in Labor's flower
murderous claws.
Boastful with leering eyes,
blood-dripping jaws...
Accurst be the cowardice
hidden in laws!
Utah has drained your blood;
white hands are wet;
We of the "surging flood"
never forget!
Our songster! Have your laws
now had their fill?
Know ye, his songs and cause,
ye cannot kill!
High head and back unbending,
"rebel true blue,"
Into the night unending;
why was it you?
High head and back unbending,
fearless and true,
Into the night unending;
why was it you?
Heart that was quick with song
torn with their lead;
Life that was young and strong,
shattered and dead.
Singer of manly songs,
laughter and tears;
Singer of Labor's wrongs,
joys, hopes and fears.
Though you were one of us,
what could we do?
Joe, there was none of us
needed like you.
We gave, however small,
what Life could give;
We would have given all
that you might live.
Your death you held as naught,
slander and shame;
We from the very thought
shrank as from flame.
Each of us held his breath,
tense with despair;
You, who were close to death,
seemed not to care.
White-headed, loathsome power,
knowing no pause,
Sinking in Labor's flower
murderous claws.
Boastful with leering eyes,
blood-dripping jaws...
Accurst be the cowardice
hidden in laws!
Utah has drained your blood;
white hands are wet;
We of the "surging flood"
never forget!
Our songster! Have your laws
now had their fill?
Know ye, his songs and cause,
ye cannot kill!
High head and back unbending,
"rebel true blue,"
Into the night unending;
why was it you?
inviata da Bernart Bartleby - 21/5/2014 - 15:21
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Parole di Ralph Chaplin.
Sulla melodia di un inno religioso ottocentesco composto da Lowell Mason.
La canzone fu pubblicata nel “Red Songbook” dell’IWW.
Ralph Chaplin fu anche autore di una biografia di Joe Hill, publicata nel 1923.