Talk:Alfred Hayes (writer)

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An entry from Alfred Hayes (writer) appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know? column on 27 January 2006.

[edit] Joe Hill poem

In the article on Joe Hill it is stated that Hayes wrote the poem Joe Hill in 1925, however, according to this article, Hayes was only 14 years old at that time and only started writing poetry in the 1930s. Is the information correct? -- Hestemand 18:20, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

Good question. Spartacus Schoolnet, usually quite reliable, says at [1] (at the bottom of the page, note 7), "In 1925 Alfred Hayes wrote a poem about the death of Joe Hill. In 1950 Earl Robinson turned it into a song, I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night." I'm guessing that Spartacus would be the source. You are right that would make him awfully young when he wrote it. Then again, they may be late on the Earl Robinson date, because many other sites say 1936 or 1938, and I think Paul Robeson recorded it well before 1950.

This might call for some serious research. -- Jmabel | Talk 01:45, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

I've ordered some books which might sort it out, will get back to it as soon as possible. -- Hestemand 19:42, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

From the page (http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/joehill.html). Earl Robinson is quoted as follows:

"Joe Hill" was written in Camp Unity in the summer of 1936 in New York State....."Earl Robinson, liner notes for "Alive and Well," (Aspen Records APN 30101), 1986."

This would make Alfred Hayes 25 years old at the time; much more probable.

It isn't clear about whether it was the poem or the song that was written in 1936; but I'm leaning toward it referring to the latter. -- Hestemand 21:54, 5 August 2006 (UTC)