Old John Brown

You come before me
Seasons before me
Old man you done them wrong
Old man you done them wrong
Bright eyes can tell lies
Bright like the morning skies
Old man laughing at us
Old man is dangerous
Oh heed the warning
Don’t put your faith in the
Mighty who tumble down
Cause the blood it might be your own
Ooh now bless my soul
Can’t they remember him
The old man come back around
Cause of the seeds he put in the ground
Even old John Brown spoke of many miles
Even though John Brown would take many lives
They never know John Brown would begin the fight
Even old John Brown spoke of many miles —
Could happen tonight
Where they would follow
Some would be foolish to roam
He lead you to a gallows pole
Is it your talent
To care for the children you know
Another might have been stillborn
Recall the time that he lost
And of fortunes plenty
Before the horns turn to rust
They could call on many
And who can hear the voices that speak steady
Because they might be calling you home
Even old John Brown spoke of many miles
Even though John Brown would take many lives
They never know John Brown would begin the fight
See that old John Brown spoke of many miles —
Could happen tonight
I’m not rewarding you
Was not the war we could lose
So many would be lost
So few can move and take up the cause
Visions of one day
Prisons can’t hold the
Light that’s will follow us
After we turn to dust
Is he the one who
Believes himself to be
A light that keeps marching on
Turn it on you can’t turn it off
They can’t remove pages of history
The old man has to be found
Innocent oh but they put him down
Bright eyes
Could die
Or catch fire
A disguise
In each one
So what fight
Do you choose?
Bright eyes
Should inspire
Not collide
There’s a prize
To be won
So what fight
Do you choose?
We begin tonight
Livin it alright
Even though John Brown would begin (to rise) —
Today
See that old John Brown he refused to die —
He gives his own life
See that old John Brown would resist the fire