Irish Folk Song Joe Hill

[RUCKARUCKAALIFAN1100]

the lyrics arent even in sync with the video

[MikeRiley84]

You can find a version of the song "Joe Hill" in a record called Ireland Boys Hurrah! by The Wolfhound, which also includes classic Irish Folk. Joe Hill wasn't Irish, this song was not written by an Irishman, it was not even put to music by one. But does it matter? Working class Irish-americans of the era probably treated it as one. The name of the genre is nowhere near as important as the lyrics.

[GishabrunLOB]

Actually guys, an Irish folk group did sing it.

[MrMurph64]

joe hill is an american song not irish

[GishabrunLOB]

@MrMurph64 But an irish folk group sung this version

[applehunter87]

One of the great Irish folk songs. Tiocfaidh ár lá Joe!!!!

You didn't die in vein.

[deancogan28]

I am an Irish man.. a proud one... but for God sake this is not an irish song....

[GishabrunLOB]

@deancogan28 this version was sung by an irish folk group

[rexsloboviae]

A song written by an American songwriter and a British poet about a Swedish-American labor organizer...to call this an Irish Folk Song is like calling the National Anthem of the USSR American Patriotic Music.

[GishabrunLOB]

@rexsloboviae Actually, this version is sung by an irish folk group

[tuomaankuoma1]

And his original name was Josef Hilström. Blessing's to his memory.

[tuomaankuoma1]

Joe Hill was the swedish trades union activist who were executit for his political opinions . Is there any library in the US or are yuo so stupid as it seems?

[MrEclecticity]

This fails to move me in the way that the Joan Baez and Paul Robeson versions do. It lacks pathos and authenticity.

[187ichiban]

Cannery Workers of the World, Unite! You have nothing to lose but your Cans!

[dakkonsol]

This is a Union song not an Irish Folk Song. And Joe Hill was Swedish. It doesn't have boarders. He was a member of the INTERNATIONAL Workers of the WORLD.

[SpancelHill]

@dakkonsol that is true, workers of the world unite,

[coy0te9]

@dakkonsol

There is not now and never has been an organization named the "international workers of the world", its been Industrial Workers of the World since 1905

[dakkonsol]

@coy0te9 I don't know if you mean for that to come across as condescending 'cause it's the internet.

[coy0te9]

@dakkonsol

No, I'm simply correcting an error of fact.

[applehunter87]

My mother has a record of Paul Robeson when he was singing in the Soviet Union in the 1930's. He introduced this song and acknowledged the significance of Joe Hill to the Easter Rising in 1916. It was very much a brave move at the time. Luke Kelly's version is great too.

[ericinsurgent]

people need to come with the nationality crap it's an honest mistake, the band performing this version is "The Dubliners" after all.

[vivascargill]

Brother Paul Robeson Brother Joe Hill and Brother Jim Larkin belong to the working class all over the world-

[grummeper]

@vivascargill - 100% agree!

[karlvonl1]

Ehhh???? An Irish folk song? I´d say this is an Irish version of an American folksong.

[LaSoldat]

Haha irish folk song? FUCK OFF. Joe Hill(ström) was Swedish, and he died in America. So it's either an American folk song, maybe Swedish, but definitely not fucking Irish.

[hankstertube]

@LaSoldat I like poleske's answer below. Joe Hill was an internationalist. And as well, I'd say there's a bit of Irish in all people.

[poleske]

I don't know who wrote this song... American folk music is derived from Irish music, Luke Kelly is Irish and has sung many labor songs .... Irish are also associated with the working class and labor movement as well.... so that is why I guess some will call this song an Irish folk song.... regardless the Joe hill, the IWW and the true labor/ human liberator y movement is anti-nationalist... Joe was an industrial Unionist much like another huge hero

 James Connelly

[ericinsurgent]

@poleske this song was originally a poem by Alfred Hayes (who was British) and later put to music Earl Robinson (who was American) and is being performed by The Dubliners (Irish obviously). It kind of beautiful different nations coming together.

[poleske]

@ericinsurgent

Thank you for the wonderful comment.

This open medium for conversation is the best thing that can happen for the working class. Moreover it is good that we are able to disregard the fabrication of nationality when looking at human struggle for human rights.

The true confrontation is between the individual worker reading this comment and watching this video and their boss.

[captdrastic]

@applehunter87:

Joe Hill wasn't Irish though.  He was Swedish-American.

Not that the labor movement isn't transnational. And this is a pretty version of the song.

[applehunter87]

Good man Joe Hill.

An Irish hero.

We will never forget what you did for us Joe!

Go raibh maith agut..

[cechansler]

he was born in sweden.

[LaSoldat]

@applehunter87 Irish hero.

Joe hill never visited Ireland. Oh and btw, his birthname was Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, now how irish does that name sound to you? Well he was swedish.

[CrazyMetalZombie]

Haha I love how upbeat this is as opposed to the lyrics xD

[tickleperson2]

my dad sang me this when i was a small child.

i could never figure out why he hadn't died.

the pitfalls of having a socialist work place organiser for a father.

he took me to karl marx's grave on saturdays after we had fed the squirrels in the park.

[hankstertube]

lovely!

[tickleperson2]

yeah it is. :D

[malachy1847]

This is the singing of the Late Geat Luke Kelly .....from the Dubliners ...checkout his singing"The Sun Is Burning Or "Free The People!"

[hankstertube]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Long live the rebel and the Irish in all of us!

[vivascargill]

@hankstertube again well said!

[williamlander]

This Isn't An "Irish Folk Song" It Was A Poem Written In 1930 In america And Was Called "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night" And It Was Turned Into A Song By Earl Robinson In 1936

[hankstertube]

This song has no ethnicity -- Joe Hill was an internationalist, and we might be proud to count the Irish among the internationals.

[kennyworth1967]

Correction Department..Joe was born ion Sweden,not Norway as I had previously stated..

[kennyworth1967]

Whoops, I meant Apple Hunter..

[kennyworth1967]

Yo,Applefarmer..You might want to read up on Joe HIll.While the English were no doubt guilty of all kinds of barbarity in 1916, we can't pin the murder of Joe Hill on them.

Joe Hill,was a Norwegian immigrant to the U.S. and was famous for his anti capitalist ,pro worker stances.He fought tirelessly to organize oppressed workers.

For his trouble, he was framed on a murder rap during a botched robbery in Salt Lake City,Utah.

As far as I know, he never stepped foot in Ireland.

[applehunter87]

Yes this is Luke Kelly.

The song is about an Irish patriot name Joe Hill who was excecuted by the British in 1916.

[redcrowdemon]

So where in Ireland is 'Salt Lake City' or the copper mines? I think, my friend, you'll find this is an American union song, early 20th century, made famous by Paul Robeson, and later Joan Baez. Luke's version is great though - but has nothing to do with Ireland or 1916.

[Bjowolf2]

Near Cork ? ;-)

[GishabrunLOB]

@redcrowdemon An irish folk group sung this version

[mammasantina1]

@redcrowdemon

Thanks red crow demon for a very polite response to the poster and for educating her/him.

[RUCKARUCKAALIFAN1100]

@redcrowdemon he is right and joe hill wasn't an actual person more of an idea

[hankstertube]

Joe Hill has no country! Irish is as good as any nationality!!!

[LaSoldat]

@hankstertube What do you mean by that, i would say he has a country. The guy was born in Sweden, and died in America. So the guy is a swedish-american, it doesn't make any sence to say that he is Irish.

[vivascargill]

@hankstertube bravo and that is true for Brother Paul and Brother Larkin

[laddercast]

yes he emigrated from sweden this is a good singer thou

[FrockeyBalboa]

Joe Hill´s from Sweden. Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, alias Joseph Hillström, born 7 oktober 1879 in Gävle.

150-200 km north of Stockholm. :)

[andjack]

As many already written, it has nothing to do with Irish, than the singer here, I belive, is the Irish singer Luke Kelly.

[Superbear666]

A fine rendition of a great song, to be sure, but about as Irish as the displaced Scottish Presbyterian trash of the DUP....

[finbarboyle]

Irish folk song my arse. I'm Irish and around the time I was 14 I knew who joe Hill was, His name was revered in our house because he was a union man and big Jim Larkin spoke at his funeral. But not an Irish song.

[Doniedaff]

This song is a lot of things, but Irish it isn't.

[JoeSkarprattare]

This is actually a poem written by Alfred Hayes in 1930, and in 1936 it was turned into a song By Earl Robinson.

It's about the Swedish-American Joe Hill who is a major figure in the American labour-movement.

Jag drömde om Joe Hill inatt.

[Snapessister26]

Now the lyrics are to fast.

[katemigo]

good to know good to remember.