Picture of John
Brown
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John Brown's Body - The Tune by William Steffe
The catchy tune to "John Brown's Body was
written in 1856 by William Steffe (1830–1890) who used a
camp-meeting song with the traditional "Glory Hallelujah" refrain
for the basis of the song. The camp-meeting songs became popular
during the Christian
revivalist movement referred to as the
Second Great Awakening.
John Brown's Body: Union Army Song
The words and lyrics to the John Brown's
Body changed from the simple words and repetitive phrases learned by
rote at religious meetings to more complex and sophisticated words
and lyrics aspiring to a greater poetic and literary quality with
highly significant meanings. The new words and lyrics to the John
Brown's Body song took on this new, highly patriotic flavor with the
outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. The song "John Brown's Body"
became one of the most popular marching songs for the Union army.
John Brown's Body: Early Words and Lyrics
One of the early versions of the John
Brown's Body song were as follows. Compare the simplicity of
these words and lyrics to John Brown's Body with the later
version of the song.
John
Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
But his soul goes marching on.
CHORUS: Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
His soul goes marching on.
He's gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord,
He's gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord,
He's gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord,
His soul goes marching on.--CHORUS
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
His soul goes marching on.--CHORUS
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
His soul goes marching on.--CHORUS
The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down,
The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down,
The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down,
His soul goes marching on.--CHORUS
John Brown's Body: William W. Patton words and lyrics
Rev. William Weston Patton (1821-1889),
was a passionate abolitionist who wrote the following words to the
tune of John Brown's Body. William Patton wrote these words to John
Brown's Body in October 1861 which were published in the
Chicago Tribune on December 16, 1861. The publicity surrounding the
raid on Harpers Ferry was covered right across the nation. People
were extremely familiar with the events and the role of the
fanatical abolitionist John Brown. The words and lyrics of the first
verse emphasizes John Brown's heroic status trying to free slaves,
the second to his exploits in the violent conflict referred to as
Bleeding Kansas, and the third
verse reflects the events of the raid on Harpers Ferry and his
hanging. The words and lyrics to the verses written by Rev William
Patton are as follows, each verses ending with the "Glory, glory,
hallelujah" chorus:
Old John Brown’s body lies moldering in the grave,
While weep the sons of bondage whom he ventured all to save;
But tho he lost his life while struggling for the slave,
His soul is marching on.
John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true and brave,
And Kansas knows his valor when he fought her rights to save;
Now, tho the grass grows green above his grave,
His soul is marching on.
He captured Harper’s Ferry, with his nineteen men so few,
And frightened "Old Virginny" till she trembled thru and thru;
They hung him for a traitor, themselves the traitor crew,
But his soul is marching on.
John Brown was John the Baptist of the Christ we are to see,
Christ who of the bondmen shall the Liberator be,
And soon thruout the Sunny South the slaves shall all be free,
For his soul is marching on.
The conflict that he heralded he looks from heaven to view,
On the army of the Union with its flag red, white and blue.
And heaven shall ring with anthems o’er the deed they mean to do,
For his soul is marching on.
Ye soldiers of Freedom, then strike, while strike ye may,
The death blow of oppression in a better time and way,
For the dawn of old John Brown has brightened into day,
And his soul is marching on.
For additional
facts and information refer to
John Brown’s Raid on
the Armory at Harper’s Ferry and his life story in the
John Brown Biography and Timeline
John Brown's Body for kids: Julia Ward Howe
words and lyrics
The words and lyrics to the John Brown's
Body changed over time but the most famous lyrics to
the tune were written by Julia Ward Howe which she
called "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." The
words and lyrics to this famous Civil War era song
make no mention of John Brown but use the "Glory,
glory, hallelujah" chorus
John Brown's Body for kids - President James Buchanan Video
The article
containing story of the John Brown's Body song provides an
interesting insight into of one of the Important
events of his presidential term in office. The following
James Buchanan video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 15th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1857 to March 4, 1861.
John Brown's Body
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Interesting Facts about John Brown's Body song, words and lyrics
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John Brown's Body song, words and lyrics
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John Brown's Body song and Harpers Ferry
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James Buchanan Presidency from March 4, 1857 to March 4, 1861
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Fast, fun info about the John Brown's Body words and lyrics
● Different versions of
the words to John Brown's Body
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James Buchanan Presidency and
John Brown's Body words and lyrics for schools,
homework, kids and children
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