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Don​’​t Take My Papa Away From Me - Joe Hill (1915)

from When We Stand Together by Magpie

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about

This is the third of Joe’s great compositions from prison, words and music. At the time of his writing, the U.S. had not yet entered the First World War, but Joe and Wobblies all across the United States were keenly aware that fellow workers from around the world, particularly in the UK, France and Australia, were already dying on the battlefields and in the trenches in Europe. There were many anti-war songs that arose out of that chapter in history. Joe tells the poignant story of an orphan of the conflict, again with a musical setting that is as sophisticated as it is typical of the music of the period. This also happens to be the last song Joe Hill ever wrote. The night before he was executed he sent a telegram to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn:
“COMPOSED NEW SONG LAST WEEK WITH MUSIC DEDICATED TO THE DOVE OF PEACE IT’S COMING AND NOW GOODBYE GURLEY DEAR I HAVE LIVED LIKE A REBEL AND SHALL DIE LIKE A REBEL JOE HILL”

lyrics

A little girl with her father stayed
In an old cabin ‘cross the sea.
Her mother dear in the cold grave lay:
 With her father, she’d always be.

But then one day, the Great War broke out,

And the father was told to go.

The little girl pleaded her father she needed;
 She begged, cried, and pleaded so.

“Don’t take my papa away from me;
 Don’t leave me here all alone.

He has cared for me so tenderly
Ever since mother has gone.
 Nobody ever like him can be;
No one can so with me play.
 Don’t take my father away from me; Please don’t take papa away.”

Her tender pleadings were all in vain,
 And her father went to the war.
 He’ll never kiss her goodnight again
 For he fell ‘mid the cannons’ roar.

A greater soldier was never born,

But his brave heart was pierced one day.

And as he was dying, he heard someone crying:
 A girl’s voice from far away:

credits

from When We Stand Together, released July 23, 2022
words & music by Joe Hill

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James Connolly Upstate NY IWW Albany, New York

The James Connolly Upstate NY IWW branch is a union for all workers based in NY. Musicians and other workers wishing to organize can find us here upstatenyiww.wordpress.com/contact/

Our benefit album is out May 31st. Support our organizing workers! ... more

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