Misc Traditional – Joe Hill (Guitar)

Key
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Chords

Notes: - As per usual, strumming patterns are just a suggestion and G7 can be played as just G - It can also be sung to the tune of Marty Robbins' "They're Hanging Me Tonight", but it needs some slight changes: The three first lines go G - Em; the last two, C - G, playing the root note on the first and last eighths, represented in the strumming pattern as mutes. I think it sounds better in the key of C, so I usually do C - Am and F - C instead. [Verse 1]
    G
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,

  G7              D
Alive as you and me.

     C                    G
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead"

    C                 G
"I never died," says he,

    C                 G
"I never died," says he.
[Verse 2]
     G
"In Salt Lake, Joe," by god says I,

      G7            D
Him standing by my bed,

        C              G
"They framed you on a murder charge."

      C                 G
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead,"

      C                 G
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead."
[Verse 3]
      G
"The copper bosses shot you Joe,

      G7                   D
They killed you Joe," says I.

        C                 G
"Takes more than guns to kill a man,"

      C              G
Says Joe, "I didn't die."

      C              G
Says Joe, "I didn't die."
[Verse 4]
  G
Standing there as big as life,

 G7                D
Smiling with his eyes.

     C                   G
Joe says, "What they forgot to kill"

     C          G
Went on to organize,

     C          G
Went on to organize!"
[Verse 5]
      G
"Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me

      G7               D
"Joe Hill ain't never died."

       C             G
Where working men go out on strike,

     C                G
Joe Hill is at their side,

     C                G
Joe Hill is at their side.
[Verse 5]
      G
From San Diego up to Maine

  G7               D
In every mine and mill

       C             G
Where working men go out on strike

     C                    G
Says he "You'll find Joe Hill,"

     C                    G
Says he "You'll find Joe Hill."
[Verse 6]
    G
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,

  G7              D
Alive as you and me.

     C                    G
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead"

    C                 G
"I never died," says he,

    C                 G
"I never died," says he.