Joe Hill (Brivele, featuring Daniel Kahn)

Brivele & Daniel Kahn perform Michael Wex's Yiddish translation of Joe Hill at the 2024 KlezKanada Cabaret.

Filmed in the wee hours of Monday August 26 by Magdalena Hutter.

JOE HILL
(Earl Robinson, Alfred Hayes)
Yiddish by Michael Wex

Mir kholemt nekhtn zikh Joe Hill,
Er lebt azoy vi di.
Zog ikh, “Nu, Joe, felst tsen yor shoyn,”
Zogt er, “Ikh bin nokh hi,”
Zogt er, “Ikh bin nokh hi.”

“Kuper-magnatn hobn dikh, oy, Joe,
Geshosn, Joe,” zog ikh.
“Biksn brengen nisht dem mentshn um,”
Zogt er, “lemoshel, mikh,”
Zogt er, “lemoshel, mikh.”

Er shteyt mir far di oygn gor,
Nokh lebedik un frish.
Zogt, “Vos me’hot geharget nisht,
OrganiZIrt hot zikh,
OrganiZIrt hot zikh.

“Fun San Diego azh biz Maine
In yedn grub un mil,
Vu se monen zeyers arbeter,
Gefint zikh dort Joe Hill,
Gefint zikh dort 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" 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 could never kill
Went on to organize
Went on to organize"

From San Diego up to Maine
In every mine and mill
Where workers defend their rights
It's there you find Joe Hill
It's there you find Joe Hill!

Mir kholemt nekhtn zikh Joe Hill,
Er lebt azoy vi di.
Zog ikh, “Nu, Joe, felst tsen yor shoyn,”
Zogt er, “Ikh bin nokh hi,”
Zogt er, “Ikh bin nokh hi.”