Joe Hill

“ THE REBEL GIRL
Words and Music by Joe Hill
(Copyrighted, 1916)
There are women of many descriptions
In this queer world, as everyone knows,
Some are living beautiful mansions,
And are wearing the finest of clothers.
There are blue blooded queens and princesses,
Who have charms made of diamonds and pearl;
But the only and thoroughbred lady
Is the Rebel Girl.
CHORUS
That's the Rebel Girl, that's the Rebel Girl!
To the working class she's a precious pearl. ”

“ MR. BLOCK
By Joe Hill
(Air: "It Looks To Me Like a Big Time Tonight")
Please give me your attention, I'll introduce to you
A man that is a credit to "Our Red, White and Blue";
His head is made of lumber, and solid as a rock;
He is a common worker and his name is Mr. Block.
And Block he thinks he may
Be President some day.
CHORUS:
Oh, Mr. Block, you were born by mistake,
You take the cake,
You make me ache.
Tie on a rock to your block and then jump in the lake,
Kindly do that for Liberty's sake.
Yes, Mr. Block is lucky; he found a job, by gee! ”

“ He said: "I'm Casey Jones, the guy that pulled the S. P. freight."
You're just the man." said Peter; "our musicians went on strike;
You can yet a job a-scabbing any time you like."
Casey Jones got a job in heaven;
Casey Jones was doing mighty fine;
Casey Jones went scabbing on the angels,
Just like he did to workers on the S. P. line.
The angels got together, and they said it wasn't fair,
For Casey Jones to go around a-scabbing everywhere. ”

“ It's the boss that pays starvation wages.
A homeless girl can always hear
Temptations calling everywhere.
The workers can never be free until they blow the whistle for the parasites to go to work. ”

“ Then they'll tell you when you're on the bum:
Holy Rollers and jumpers come out,
And they holler, they jump and they shout.
"Give your money to Jesus," they say,
"He will cure all diseases today."
If you fight hard for children and wife—
Try to get something good in this life—
You're a sinner and bad man, they tell,
When you die you will sure go to hell. ”

“ We want the sailor and the tailor and the lumberjacks,
And all the cooks and Laundry girls,
We want the guy that dives for pearls,
The pretty maid that's making curls,
And the baker and staker tnd the chimneysweep
We want the man that's slinging hash,
The child that works for little cash
In one union grand.
We want the tinner and the skinner and the chambermaid,
We want the man with spikes on soles,
We want the man that's digging holes,
We want the man that's climbing poles ”

“ The preachers, cops and money-kings were working hand in hand,
The boys in blue, with stars and stripes were sent by Uncle Sam;
Still things were looking blue, 'cause every striker knew
That weaving cloth with bayonets is hard to do. ”

“ Break your chains, demand your rights.
All the wealth you make is taken
By exploiting parasites.
Shall you kneel in deep submission
From your cradles to your graves?
Is the height of your ambition
To be good and willing slaves? ”

“ Down the street he met a cop,
And the copper made him stop,
And he asked him, "When did you blow into town?
Come with me up to the judge,"
But the judge he said, "Oh fudge,
Bums that have no money needn't come around." ”

“ If, for a change, you would have eggs and ham,
Then come, do your share, like a man.
If you like sluggers to beat off you head,
Then don't organize, all unions despise,
If you want nothing before you are dead,
Shake hands with your boss and look wise. ”

“ There is something in the air.
Everywhere you walk, everybody talk
'Bout the I. W. W.
They have got a way to strike
That the master doesn't like—
Everybody stick, that's the only trick,
All are joining it now. ”

“ And Scissor Bill, he says: "This country must be freed
From Niggers, Japs and Dutchmen and the gol durn Swede."
He says that evedy cop would be a native son
If it wasn't for the Irishman, the sonna fur gun.
Scissor Bill, the "foreigners" is cussin;
Scissor Bill, he says: "I hate a Coon";
Scissor Bill is down on everybody
The Hottentots, the bushmen and the man in the moon.
Don't try to talk your union dope to Scissor Bill,
He says he never organized and never will.
He always will be satisfied until he's dead,
With coffee and doughnut and a lousy old bed. ”

“ Every ship upon the ocean
They can tie with mighty chains. ”

“ My will is easy to decide,
For there is nothing to divide.
My kin don't need to fuss and moan—
"Moss does not cling to a rolling stone."
My body? Ah, If I could choose,
I would to ashes it reduce,
And let the merry breezes blow
My dust to where some flowers grow.
Perhaps some fading flower then
would come to life and bloom again.
This is my last and final will.
Good luck to all of you,
JOE HILL. ”

“ They can tie with mighty chains. ”

“ Her tender pleadings were all in vain, and her father went to the war.
He'll never kiss her good night again, for he fell 'mid the cannon's roar.
Greater a soldier was never born, but his brave heart was pierced one day ”

“ You'll get pie in the sky when you die. ”