Good Brother John

On the express bus to the Boot Camp John came down the isle
All I could see in the inky black night was a warm but weary smile
He said friend could I sit here by you I cussed him as he sat down
Because everything anybody talk me made me hate this stranger John
John my brother John my friend I cussed him once and I cussed him again
John stood by me to the very end good brother John
Two GI’s on an airplane headed for a distant place
John was honest and friendly till I cussed him and spit in his face
Well I thought I’d be a dead man before John turned loose of me He said you’re nothin’but a tomfool whiteman but I swear I’m gonna make you see
John my brother John my friend he never borrowed more than he could land
John stood by me to the very end good brother John
Two months later in the battle in the place that I couldn’t even name
John laid beside me with a rifle and I hated him just the same
Then the earth flew up beneath me in a second my eyes were gone
Then a hand fell on my shoulder and a voice said it’s me John
(Good brother John good brother John)
I said get away boy who needs you he said frind you’re comin’with me Now that somebody’s made you blind maybe you can learn to see
Then he picked me up on his shoulders and lifted me off of the ground
But when he stood up straight as a pine tree somebody shot him down
John my brother John my friend gave up his soul to the jumble wind
John stood by me to the very end good brother John
Now I make my way in the darkness but one thing I clearly see
God’s good world is full of fine men and they don’t all look like me That lesson cost John his poor life while I can’t stumbling back
Lord if I’d’ve been blind from the very first I’d never known John was black
John my brother John my friend I cussed him once and I cussed him again
John stood by me to the very end good brother John
John my brother John my friend he never borrowed more than he could land
John stood by me to the very end good brother John
Good brother John good brother John good brother John