Joe Hill

Date of Birth: October 7, 1879

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: November 19, 1915

Biography

Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, was a Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies. Hill was born on October 7, 1879, in Gävle, Sweden, and immigrated to the United States in 1902. He became an influential figure in the labor movement through his poignant songs that captured the struggles and aspirations of the working class. Hill’s songs, such as “The Preacher and the Slave” and “There is Power in a Union,” became anthems of the labor movement and are still sung today. Tragically, Hill was executed by firing squad on November 19, 1915, in Salt Lake City, Utah, after being controversially convicted of murder. His case drew international attention and remains a symbol of labor rights and justice.

5 Interesting Facts about Joe Hill

1. Joe Hill’s famous last words were, “Don’t waste time mourning. Organize!”

2. He was posthumously pardoned by the state of Utah in 2011, nearly a century after his execution.

3. Hill’s life and work inspired various artists and writers, including the folk singer Woody Guthrie and the author Wallace Stegner.

4. The song “I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night,” written by Earl Robinson and Alfred Hayes, became a popular tribute to his legacy.

5. Joe Hill’s trial and execution are considered one of the most controversial in American legal history, with many believing he was framed due to his activism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Joe Hill

1. “Don’t waste any time in mourning. Organize!”

2. “A pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over.”

3. “Work and pray, live on hay, you’ll get pie in the sky when you die.”

4. “I’m not afraid of jail, nor afraid of being poor. I’m afraid of being comfortable and forgetting the worker.”

5. “It is necessary to instill the spirit of revolt in the working class.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Joe Hill did not accumulate significant wealth during his lifetime. His focus was on labor activism and the fight for workers’ rights rather than personal financial gain.

Children

Joe Hill did not have any children. His dedication to the labor movement and his transient lifestyle as an activist left little room for a family life.