"Work and pray, live on hay, you'll get pie in the sky when you die"

This quote by Joe Hill is a commentary on the severe truths of life for the working class. It is a reminder that hard work and prayer are inadequate to ensure a better life. The phrase "live on hay" is a metaphor for a weak existence, recommending that the working class is living in poverty and deprivation. The expression "pie in the sky" is a metaphor for a utopian future that is unattainable in this life. It indicates that the only reward for the hard work and prayers of the working class is a far-off, unattainable reward in the afterlife. This quote is a tip that the working class is typically made the most of and that their effort and prayers are inadequate to ensure a much better life.