John Brown

Some said John was saintly some said he was a fool as he spoke of revolution and the golden rule with a bible in his satchel and a rifle in his hand he would sacrifice his own to liberate this land John Brown left North Elba for Ossowatamie he knew his sons were waiting and Kansas had to be free they were fighting border ruffians hoping to turn the tide but the bloody swords of '56 no one could abide Back in Virginia we gathered in his glow his eyes as red as fire hair as white as snow he knew a house divided in time would never stand as unto the secret six Capt. Brown revealed his plan Attack at Harper's Ferry this time it's for real dreams of insurrection reinforcements from the fields now we had the guns and ammo and a chance to get away but old man Brown he held his ground he was goin' to have his day John Brown John Brown John Brown laid his body down What northern lawyer will defend the leader of this gang tried before his wounds had healed and sentenced to hang he owed more than his life but his words would pay the debt and strike a blow for freedom that no one could forget In Cleveland and Concord the bells they did ring from Philadelphia to Buffalo choirs they would sing all along the underground railroad people they were crying abolitionists everywhere knew John Brown was crucified John Brown John Brown John Brown laid his body down (Spoken) From Frederick Douglass to Malcolm X Marcus Garvey to the secret six: Sanborn, Smith, Stearns, Parker, Higginson, & Howe to Emerson, Thoreau, Turner, Truth, Tubman, & Stowe