"Mr. Block" Joe Hill's humorous song tells the story of a common worker who fails to take a stand for his rights and falls into error upon error. Listen to a RealAudio file of "Mr. Block" performed by a contemporary folksinger, Utah Phillips (Courtesy: Rounder Records Corp.) To listen to this RealAudio file, download a free version of RealPlayer. Lyrics: Mister Block 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 Mister Block. And Block 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 a rock on 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! The shark got seven dollars, for a job add fare and fee. They shipped him to a desert and dumped him with his truck, But when he tried to find his job, he sure was out of luck. He shouted, "That's too raw, I'll fix them with the law!" -Chorus- Block hiked back to the city, but wasn't doing well. He said, "I'll join the union-the great A. F .of L." He got a job the next morning, got fired in the night, He said, "I'll see Sam Gompers and he'll fix the foreman right." Sam Gompers said, "You see, you've got our sympathy." -Chorus- Election Day he shouted, "A Socialist for Mayor!" The "comrade" got elected, he happy was for fair. But after the election, he got an awful shock; A great big socialistic "bull" did rap him on the block. And comrade did sob, "I helped him to his job." -Chorus- The money kings in Cuba blew up the gunboat Maine, But Block got awful angry and blamed it all on Spain. He went right in the battle and there he lost his leg, And now he's peddling shoestrings and is walking on a peg. He shouts, "Remember Maine, Hurrah! to hell with Spain!" -Chorus- Poor Block he died one evening, I'm very glad to state; He climbed the golden ladder up to the pearly gate. He said, "Oh, Mr. Peter, one word I'd like to tell, "I'd like to meet the Astorbilts and John D, Rockefell." Old Pete said, "Is that so? "You'll meet them down below." -Chorus- "Mr. Block" was written by Joe Hill. Read on for more                 About the Program || Joe Hill Home || PBS Home