“The Death of Harry Simms”
Description
Harry Simms is nineteen and "the bravest union man That I have ever seen." The singer worked with Simms; one day in 1932, after they separate, Simms is killed for his union activities. The singer says "The thugs... cannot kill our spirit"
Notes
Greenway claims this song has gone into oral tradition and developed variants. I have no supporting evidence for this -- but without counter-evidence, it goes into the Index. - RBW
Seeger lists authorship as "Words: Jim Garland; Music: As sung by Aunt Molly Jackson." - PJS
Recordings
- Pete Seeger, "The Death of Harry Simms" (on PeteSeeger13, AmHist1) (on PeteSeeger39, possibly the same recording as on PeteSeeger13)
References
- Greenway-AFP, pp. 271-273 (plus notes on p. 261), "The Death of Harry Simms" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, HARRYSIM*
- BI, Grnw271