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David Rovics lyrics : "John Brown"

Owen Brown was an abolitionist
John was Owen's son
He grew up in New England

He was born in Torrington
John Brown was a tanner
And a man of many skills

And he stood up for the workers
Who toiled in the mills


He stood up for the Indians
He stood up for the women
For the oppressed and the exploited

This good man stood with them
So when Kansas was bleeding
He went and joined the fray

If the slave-trade wanted Kansas
Then the slave traders had to pay


Riding through the Kansas prairie
With a fine and loyal band
Glory, Hallelujah

Beecher's Bible in his hand

With two thousand of New England's

Best and bravest sons
Captain Brown fought in Kansas
With a Bible and a gun

When Free Lawrence was on fire
Lighting up the night
The ruffians would flee

John Brown would stand and fight

Lincoln called him a fanatic

And he was a Christian who
Thought you should do unto others
As you'd have others do unto you

Christ said love your neighbor
And if your neighbor's held in slavery
He was one who felt his duty

Was to fight to set them free

Chorus


He drove the slave trade out of Kansas
Then went to bordering Missouri

Raided the plantations
No compromise, said he
Broke the chains and shackles

Rode at night to Canada
Out of the nightmare
The devil's friend, America


He was caught in Harper's Ferry
His family lying dead

They questioned him for hours
As he lay there and bled
They hanged him on the gallows

And laid him in his grave
John Brown was a Christian
And he died to free the slave


Chorus

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