Artist & Tune
Version by Joe Hickerson
Version by John McCutcheon
Version by Utah Phillips
Reference
About the Song
Joe Hill was a Norwegian immigrant and union organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W. or "Wobbies"). He was a prolific songwriter and songleader. He was framed on murder charges and sentenced to firing squad by the State of Utah. He wrote these words shortly before he was executed in 1915 and handed them to a reporter through the bars saying he didn't have time to write a tune.
The words were included in Little Red Songbook of I.W.W. songs.
My will is easy to decide
For I have nothing to divide
My kin don't need to weep and moan
Moss does not cling to a rolling stone
My body? oh, 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 soon rise up and grow green again
This is my last and final will
Good luck to all of you, Joe Hill
Joe Hickerson apparently put the poem to music and recorded it on his "Drive Dull Care Away Vol. I" LP on Folk-Legacy.
(up 3, in Am) D FG Am - / D - Am - / - AmD Am - / D FG Am -
John McCutcheon created a new setting to the words for a musical show created on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his execution. He recorded it on his 2015 "Joe Hill's Last Will" CD.
(up 2, in Am) Am G Am - / F G C - / F G Am - / G - F -