John Brown's Body

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For the reggae musical group, see John Brown's Body (band).

"John Brown's Body" is a famous Union marching song of the American Civil War. It is often alleged to have been created as a tribute to the abolitionist acts of John Brown, a claim disputed by historians (see below).

The tune, probably written by William Steffe in 1855–56, for a revivalist hymn Say, Brothers will you meet us, was later used for The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Solidarity Forever. These lyrics are from the Library of Congress: [1]

Sheet music, including "the famous John Brown's song", 1862

Tune: Brothers, will you meet me.

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;
His soul's marching on!

Chorus:

Glory, halle—hallelujah! Glory, halle—hallelujah!
Glory, halle—hallelujah! his soul's 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's marching on!

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's marching on!

His pet lambs will meet him on the way;
His pet lambs will meet him on the way;
His pet lambs will meet him on the way;
They go marching on!

They will hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree!
They will hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree!
They will hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree!
As they march along!

Now, three rousing cheers for the Union;
Now, three rousing cheers for the Union;
Now, three rousing cheers for the Union;
As we are marching on!

There is also revisionist evidence that this song was originally created by a group of Union soldiers (with verses different than this), mocking their commander who shared the name "John Brown", as presented by Sarah Vowell on This American Life. [2].

Musicologist Irwin Silber supports this analysis, stating: " 'John Brown's Body' was not composed originally about the fiery Abolitionist at all. The namesake for the song, it turns out, was Sergeant John Brown, a Scotsman, a member of the Second Battalion, Boston Light Infantry Volunteer Militia."

Columnist Mark Steyn elaborates: "This group enlisted with the Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment and formed a glee club at Fort Warren in Boston. Brown was second tenor, and the subject of a lot of good-natured joshing, including a song about him mould’ring in his grave, which at that time had just one verse, plus chorus. They called it 'The John Brown Song'. On July 18th 1861, at a regimental march past the Old State House in Boston, the boys sang the song and the crowd assumed, reasonably enough, that it was inspired by the life of John Brown the Kansas abolitionist, not John Brown the Scots tenor. [...] Later on, various other verses were written about the famous John Brown and the original John Brown found his comrades’ musical tribute to him gradually annexed by the other guy."

Inevitably, and as hinted above, many verses to the song exist other than the "official" ones quoted above - often either obscene, or strongly abolitionist. One of the latter:

Oh he captured Harper's Ferry with his nineteen men so true,
And he hammered old Virginny till she trembled through and through.
So they hanged him for a traitor, themselves a traitor's crew,
But his soul goes marching on!

The song was evidently thoroughly "annexed" by the time that verse was added.

The full version from another source (the book of Victor Hugo's "Letter to America against John Brown hunging") is:

John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave,

His soul is marching on!

(Chorus)

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His soul is marching on!

He captured Harper's Ferry with his nineteen men so true,

And he frightened old Virginia till she trembled through and through,

They hung him for a traitor, themselves the traitor crew,

But his soul is marching on!

Chorus

John Brown died that the slave might be free,

And his soul is marching on!

Chorus

The stars of Heaven are looking kindly down,

On the grave of old John Brown.

Chorus

Now has come the glorious jubilee,

When all mankind are free.

Chorus

[edit] "John Brown's Baby"

An obviously less morbid and political version about a baby with a cold is often sung by school-age children. The "Baby" version includes sound effects and pantomime. [3]