Joan Baez ist eine US-amerikanische Folk-Sängerin und -Gitarristin, Bürgerrechtlerin und Pazifistin, die ab Ende der 1950er Jahre vor allem durch ihre klare Gesangsstimme und ihr politisches Engagement gegen den Vietnamkrieg und die Rassentrennung bekannt geworden ist.
Sie interpretierte auch vielfach (zum Beispiel in Woodstock) den berühmten Folksong über den amerikanischen Arbeiterführer Joe Hill mit dem Titel "I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night" aus der Feder von Alfred Hayes und Earl Robinson.
Lyrics
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" said he, "I never died" said he.
"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 can never kill. Went on to organize, Went on to organize".
From San Diego up to Maine, In every mine and mill. Where working men defend their rights. It's there you find Joe Hill, It's there you find Joe Hill
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, Alive as you or me. Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead". "I never died" said he, "I never died" said he.
