"John Brown's Body" Dec 16, 1861 - Performed by Jim Knable

The spiritual "Say Brother, Will You Meet Us" became the hit Union Army marching song "John Brown's Body" which Julia Ward Howe rewrote as "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It would later become "Solidarity Forever" with lyrics by Ralph Chaplin, written for the Industrial Workers of the World. This version of "John Brown's Body" is the most lyrically dense.

[@terryfolderson-is5qo]

"I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away, but with Blood. I had... vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed, it might be done."

[@redhen2123]

fuck around and find out !

[@bussesandtrains1218]

he wasn't wrong

[@finnw8231]

A lot of blood was shed, but we still haven't yet purged Americas crimes. More sacrifices will need to be made before we're all truly free

[@terryfolderson-is5qo]

@@finnw8231 amen brother

[@travisbayles870]

Murderer

[@command_unit7792]

1:46 "And soon Throughont the sunny South the slaves shall all be free" is my favourit line

[@redhen2123]

free to rape your daughters, wives and mothers., careful what you wish for !

[@Twigs1836]

@@redhen2123 That sounds more like a slaveowner thing to do.

[@redhen2123]

@@Twigs1836 Check out the FBI stats on interracial sexual assaults. Every years thousands of White females get sexually assaulted by Black males. You wanna guess how many Black females get sexually assaulted by White males? That's right, ZERO Naturally these figures are an embarrassment so they stopped reporting them. The last year they were published was 2008 bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cvus08.pdf see Table 42.

[@jamesdakrn]

“They hung him for a traitor, themselves a traitor crew” is my favorite

[@agorriazfan3238]

I got my collage history teacher to play this song after the class covered the Harper's ferry raid.

[@jimknable8377]

I really appreciate that, thank you. I am actually a part-time college teacher myself, among other things, so that means a lot to me. Thanks to your professor, too, for being open to letting students have agency in their curriculum! That is the way.

[@PakBallandSami]

"zeal in the cause of freedom was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was as the taper light, his was as the burning sun... I could speak for the slave. John Brown could fight for the slave. i could live for the slave. John Brown could die for the slave --Frederick Douglass

[@Unaakite21]

Lovely rendition. I'm listening to this while procrastinating on my homework

[@jimknable8377]

Best compliment ever! Thanks!

[@crocodileguy4319]

Same :/

[@1crazyplayer430]

mood

[@avidanglerorobsession6127]

im doing the exact same thing

[@Zulu-0791]

You too?

[@refoliation]

His birthday today. RIP. His soul is marching on.

[@JohnBrownDidNothingWrong]

“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.” Favorite part of the song.

[@benjaminandrades8951]

I don't know if comparing to St John the Baptist is a good thing to do.

[@paullytle1904]

​@benjaminandrades8951 well john the baptists followers were some of the first followers of Jesus and he was executed

[@thenewcatgirl2727]

​@@benjaminandrades8951the comparison is that he would bring about a greater good than himself, a good which would ultimately accomplish what he prophesied. While the salvation of black folks from the hands of white folks isn't the same as salvation of all humans from the hands of sin and death, and the Union army did not accomplish all that John Brown desired, it is still an apt comparison.

[@kratosboy5557]

Based name

[@rickyj5547]

Stop pulling your chain

[@johannpopper1493]

An American hero and patriot of the unfinished revolution. God bless John Brown.

[@Markbeb3]

Nothing but a criminal in Hell now

[@communistcowboy]

Dear Johnny Reb: Seethe & Cope. The man who aided in the liberation of a class from tyranny has seen the gates to the Kingdom of God, and has walked through them.

[@martinputt6421]

@@Markbeb3 I think you'll find the criminals were the scum who kept human beings as slaves, treating them like they were cattle. Slavery is evil.

[@hallowedpilot8123]

@@communistcowboy murderous traitor

[@laseri2089]

@@Markbeb3 seethe

[@soumyajitsingha9614]

John Brown is much greater than Abraham Lincoln as Lincoln said he'd preserve the union with or without freeing any slaves. But John Brown was bold enough to go through with what was right Also it's the best version of the song so far

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

You have fallen for propaganda. Lincoln outlined his plan at the Union Speach. If the South stayed in the Union slavery would one day be outlawed everywhere because Lincoln was going to make sure that territories were free, not slave, Before They were admitted to the Union as States. Obviously slaveholders did not take their business into free territories. And free men in free territories did not Vote to have legal slavery when they became a state. If we're no more over using, then at least because they didn't have to compete with slave labor and therefore makes slave wagers. On the other hand, if a territory was ruled as slave before it was admittedi, Remember tended not to go there Because Wages would be so low. Therefore slave territories filled up one only with people closely tied to slave holding businesses. Lincoln figured out that the presidential power to decide how territories were ministered would Eventually filled the US senate with anti-slavery senators, making a constitutional amendment to outlaw slavery possible. But if the South were allowed to secede, They would forever be beyond the power of the non-0:26 slave States to influence., And if the salt had been patient, the Supreme Court would have ruled succession constitutional. There was no doubt of that The South ruined their chance at independence, thank God, by pyrenon Fort Sumpter. Is that changed the issue from 'secession', to 'rebellion'... And rebellion was specifically in the Constitution as Something the government could put down by force. 0:26

[@nbenefiel]

But Lincoln did free the slaves, for all time.

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

Tbf - Lincoln gave that speech when he had already written the first draft of the emancipation proclamation- he knew what he was doing.

[@georgeeverette3912]

Some how Brazil was able to free it's slaves without a long, bloody, civil war.

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

I went to his grave recently, there is a park with his statue in the center and around it are plaques to those who were killed out of racial hatred or police brutality, almost like a memorial to those who died in a fight to end oppression.

[@thenewcatgirl2727]

Their souls, too, are marching on.

[@Nobody-zq8bl]

Zero for our own kinsmen killed for the same reason. In fact, it's celebrated, glorified, and exalted as virtuous. And people like you perpetuate it.

[@charlesmaximus9161]

“Yawn”.

[@charlesmaximus9161]

😂😂😂

[@thedrugdealerinthehomedepot]

A crazy bastard, but a heroic crazy bastard

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

A heroic crazy bastard and a patriot.

[@lionrock2023]

What crazy is, in a world of hypocrites, tyrants, evil-doers, and enablers, the one guy who stuck to his belief was the crazy one.

[@thedrugdealerinthehomedepot]

@lionrock2023 Its been a long while since I have read up on him but I am pretty sure he butchered a good amount of innocent people (could be wrong), I call him a crazy bastard for his amorale killings even if it was for a just cause.

[@lionrock2023]

@@thedrugdealerinthehomedepot you could very well be wrong. and it could very well depend on one's definition of innocent. He was hanged as a traitor by people who actually became famous leaders of the confederacy.

[@Tk1NE]

Noble John Brown; a man moved by the suffering of his fellow man; a beautiful Soul. Justice is colour blind.

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

This is the song that volunteers from all over the North saying as I marched to Washington when Lincoln 1st called for volunteers after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter - Don't let anyone tell you that the war was not about slavery.

[@Quentin217]

Oh well, censor me; cancel me, call me a bigot or some silly thing, but what happened happened. Yes, slavery was a big part of the historical backdrop. Slavery had a big direct influence on the alienation that some leading personalities in southern states felt toward the big northern electoral powers. However, just the slave issue itself was not what directly led to the secession. What led directly to the secession of South Carolina was the election of Lincoln, who represented a minority party, to be the national President of all of the states. South Carolina nearly had seceeded back in 1832 in the time of President Jackson. The main issue first was high tariffs and then President Jackson's threatening attitude started running a close second. It was believed, very correctly, that President Lincoln would not consider the needs, interests, and fears of the south on any issue, slavery being principal amongst them. Once South Carolina did seceed, the gulf states all joined in solidarity primarily for the same reasons but also because they knew that South Carolina, standing alone, would be summarily over-run by US troops much like President Jackson had threated to do three decades before. When Lincoln actually did grossly exceed his authority by levying bloody war against the seven separated states, the seven were joined by four more and elements within Missouri, Kentucky, , and Maryland. By the way, Lincoln himself owned and worked four slaves as household staff in the White House. Slavery had been illegal in the District of Columbia since 1850. He kept them all upstairs and out of sight when visitors came.

[@thenewcatgirl2727]

​@@Quentin217I'm gonna be real with you chief - I absolutely doubt that the comment section of a song glorifying American hero John Brown is the best place to try and peddle your Lost Cause bullshit.

[@Quentin217]

@@thenewcatgirl2727 It is not what you say it is. It is the objective truth. What you get from modern schoolmarms and textbooks is the bullshit. Bullshit is the stock-in-trade of the powers that control the world because the truth will not support them. Truth is summarily dropped down the memory hole. That is why you imagine that I am peddaling bullshit. We are wallowing in a great sea of hogwash. I am treading in it with my mug above it. You have drowned in it.

[@JoaoRodrigues-ur4rg]

​@@thenewcatgirl2727yes

[@keiyakins]

​@@Quentin217 go cry over your participation trophies. it was about slavery. the traitors said as much in their declarations of secession.

[@november2435]

This is by far the best version of the song I ever heard, God save the union & her liberty!

[@buddy4445]

Definitely the best rendition out there in my opinion. I absolutely love how you did the "Conflict that he heralded" line!

[@elijazfrazelsassafraz3100]

Just wanted to say ever since I found this version of John Browns body it has been my favorite (to the point I will hear other renditions and be like "I want the other words!")

[@danielzylberkan1587]

This made me cry like a baby for some reason

[@EmpressEris]

I've always said that I wish John Brown's Body was the National Anthem... and if it were to be I'd want it to be this version.

[@andrewkelley9405]

Likewise, fellow patriot!

[@night_wolf_6254]

No the anthem is about us winning the battle against Britain but this song should be equally praised

[@Other_Rookie]

I think Battle Hymn of the Republic suits a national anthem better

[@ArcMedicalResearch]

Were America a Just Nation, this would be the national anthem; and our guiding doctrine

[@the501stbros]

John Brown's grave is close to me gonna be blasting this in the car when I go to the grave site.

[@DariusOfPersia]

Old John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave While weep the sons of bondage, who he ventured all to save! But though he lost his life while struggling for the slave His soul is marching on! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! 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 though the grass grows green above his grave His soul is marching on! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His soul is marching on! He captured Harper's Ferry with his nineteen men so few And frightened old Virginny till she trembled through and through! They hung him for a traitor, they themselves the traitor crew! His soul is marching on! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His soul is marching on! John Brown was John the Baptist of the Christ we are to see! Christ, who of the bondsmen shall the liberator be! And soon, throughout the sunny South, the slaves shall all be free! His soul is marching on! The conflict that he heralded he looks on 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! His soul is marching on! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His soul is marching on! Ye soldiers of freedom, then strike while strike ye may! The death blow of oppression is a better time and way! For the dawn of old John Brown has brightened into day And his soul is marching on! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His soul is marching on! His soul is marching on!

[@rickyj5547]

Not one word about the white people who were held slaves in North Africa

[@Jman0163]

now THIS is heritage

[@francisluglio6611]

I particularly like this version. Good job

[@moxee33]

Bravo!!! Really well done 👍

[@jimknable8377]

Thanks for listening!

[@lionrock2023]

had John brown been one of the founding fathers, this nation would have been so much different, and so much better.

[@jungjeru3348]

This song has always been my "go too" at Karaoke. Everbody knows and loves it and the lyrics are so easy to remember and belt out effectively ( even when ive had far too much to drink 🤫)

[@frankkoja6263]

God bless the soul of John Brown.

[@user-fp2zv9fp5r]

Я впервые прочитал про Джона Брауна в школьном учебнике и с тех пор люблю его. Да здравствует Свобода! Долой рабство!

[@Anton_Blumkin]

Отлично сказано! Не сочтите нескромным мой интерес: в школьном учебнике какой страны и когда именно вы о нём прочли?

[@user-fp2zv9fp5r]

@@Anton_BlumkinРФ, 1998 или 1999. С красной обложкой.

[@Anton_Blumkin]

​@@user-fp2zv9fp5rСпасибо! В таком случае, может, вы оцените мой перевод этой песни, помещаю его выше.

[@user-nq4rv3zn3i]

I used to sing this and civil war songs standing on the Kop at Anfield; obviously with changed lyrics

[@Sirchip4946]

Based.

[@randomamerican471]

And God Bless the Republic!

[@ronalddunne3413]

I'd give this 100 "Likes" if that were possible... God bless John Brown and all the martyrs who fought and gave their lives to end slavery and save the Union!

[@cheeseknife3593]

Happy Birthday John Brown 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SentimentalFellaVA]

Reading “Fire from the Midst of You,” an examination of John Brown’s religious beliefs and hunger for righteousness, as I recover from a hip replacement, and I gotta admit, I’ve near about fallen in love with this cover lol

[@Thetumbleweed662]

How does this guy not have thousands of subscribers yet?

[@bxdanny]

I never knew these verses existed. I thought "John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave", repeated several times, were the only lyrics, other than the "Glory, glory hallelujah" chorus. I'll bet a lot of other people thought so too. Now why do you suppose that is?

[@jimknable8377]

This would be harder to remember if you’re marching around in and out of battle, which is where the basic version of “John Brown’s Body” comes from. This is the fancier version that was probably not sung so much. I like it because it really goes for telling the story. I think of it as an evolutionary step right before Julia Ward Howe takes John Brown out but keeps the sense of righteousness for Battle Hymn of the Republic.

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

People in those Days didn't have KZbin. They learned songs that they heard in person. The history of the song is that it was invented by the troops marching to Washington when Lincoln called for volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumpter by the slave holding confederates. Different units made up different lyrics for it. But they all had the same theme.

[@elmerlarimer9026]

love this song thank you

[@CarlDavidBirman]

Marvelous

[@Vesnicie]

The Battle Hymn should be our national anthem.

[@andrewkelley9405]

It should be *everyone’s* anthem. But most cannot withstand its glory.

[@rickyj5547]

No thanks I had enough of the 19 century lsis for one day

[@rickyj5547]

​@@andrewkelley9405if that's glory I want my money

[@Marc-qd4ly]

Oh this is good, keep it up!

[@iwearleatherjackets1]

Give Jackson the boot and put John Brown and Harriet Tubman on the 20 dollar bill.

[@hobartchapel9515]

I like that! The man who instituted the "Trail of Tears" should be on rolls of Charmin, not the $20.

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

I doubt Jackson would even like being on the $20 bill since he spent his whole presidency fighting centralized, federal banking

[@hellcat2533]

This is beautifully done.

[@dang1351]

Go, John Brown, go!

[@ashleyhecker4148]

today is John Brown's birthday

[@jimknable8377]

Hello, kind listeners. I am recording some more traditional songs for those that like them and me singing them, starting with “Hello, Stranger” here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3i3an-Kqrxjn80. I have started a Patreon subscription service that will allow me to do fancier versions of these kinds of songs and my original material with my band in the form of a new album for 2024. It will also make touring to where you live possible. I would be grateful for your support in my continuing mission to make good music for nice people and their friends. www.patreon.com/JimKnable

[@Anton_Blumkin]

Моя попытка русского перевода. Джон Браун уж весь истлел, рассыпался во прах, Покинув рабства сыновей в колодках и слезах. За чёрный люд погиб, но всё ж врагам на страх Шаг держит старый Джон. Слава, слава, аллилуйя! Шаг держит старый Джон. Джон Браун верен клятве и доблестный герой, Канзас тому свидетель: за права стоял горой. Пусть камень могильный увит травой, Но путь расчистил Джон. Слава, слава, аллилуйя! Но путь расчистил Джон. Он занял Харперс Ферри с девятнадцатью людьми, Плантаторы Виргиньи им напуганы вельми. Повешен, как предатель жесткосердыми зверьми, Рукой иуды Джон. Слава, слава, аллилуйя! Рукой иуды Джон. Джон Браун суть Предтеча, возвестил приход Христов. «Се грядёт Спаситель, Тот, кто родом из рабов. Лишится вскоре сонный Юг невольничьих оков!» - Пророчил вещий Джон. Слава, слава, аллилуйя! Пророчил вещий Джон. С тех пор, как вызов брошен, закипел кровавый бой, Ввысь взметнулся флаг Союза красно-бело-голубой, А гимн звучит над битвою ликующей трубой: Зовёт к свободе Джон! Слава, слава, аллилуйя! Зовёт к свободе Джон! О, воины свободы! Пока достанет сил, На схватку с угнетеньем юных душ направьте пыл! Угасая, старый Браун сердца воспламенил, В них вечно бьётся Джон! Слава, слава, аллилуйя! В них вечно бьётся Джон!

[@kommandantgalileo]

god bless John Brown

[@andrewkelley9405]

I love BHOTR. I hear this. My love for both versions intensifies!

[@andrewkelley9405]

1) John brown was right. 2) taxation is theft. 3) all people are people in God’s eye no matter what man says.

[@alanoneill3065]

Great voice

[@night_wolf_6254]

Liked this and the original song

[@jimknable8377]

For everyone looking for another Civil War era song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npCXlZmslrSknKM Thank you for listening all and for your kind comments!

[@robertluce9494]

Go Visit the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg PA then listen to this knowing how many people died and how divided the country was and is now. It’s Erie, words cannot describe it.

[@one_rusty_boi]

great rendition! 🇺🇸

[@JohnBrownDidNothingWrong]

I approve of this song!

[@starstairs5715]

John Brown was a christian and didn't want violence but he wanted to do the right thing just think about it

[@uzbekaviator]

“Gory Gory what a hell of a way to die!”

[@lisaharmon5619]

Liked, shared, and subscribed!

[@jimknable8377]

Thanks so much for doing all of the above, Lisa. Looking forward to singing more for you!

[@johntrifunov9597]

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.

[@SunnierVoyage97]

Absolutely perfect uwu

[@tonyjoestar2632]

A true American Hero

[@MIMALECKIPL]

The song also became "I hate these classes" in Japan and "Blood on the Risers" in airborne units.

[@cachorro1152]

And Battle Hymn of the Republic

[@Afrancis16]

@@cachorro1152I think battle hymn of the republic was the original

[@Afrancis16]

@@cachorro1152Actually I just looked into it, John Brown’s Body was first

[@Ntwolf1220]

@@Afrancis16yep, based on John Brown’s Body

[@Egilhelmson]

Actually, the original version was an old camp song, a revivalist song easy to sing the religious lyrics. Then it was adapted to John Brown’s Body, then Julia Ward Howe, daughter of a famous Abolitionist, produced the Battle Hymn Of The Republic. Then, later adaptations like Blood OnThe Risers for the Airborne troops and the end of school version that I sang in high school (at the end of the school year).

[@cbman4767]

A member of my family researched if we were related to John Brown and found that we were. Don't ask me how as that the member that did the research died in 2015.

[@D4rkmatter]

An example for the USA

[@SuperNova-so2cj]

🎵solidarity forever🎶

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

Don't disrespect this American hero with your socialist chants.

[@skinnyjasper3097]

@@TaxFraudCommittersolidarity isn’t even socialist.

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

@@skinnyjasper3097 Solidarity Forever is a song used initially by Unionists but is currently used as a Socialist chant.

[@skinnyjasper3097]

@@TaxFraudCommitter correct I am one of the socialist who uses it, but economics aside Solidarity Forever calls for unionizing as a way to maintain workers rights. Now you could say that means that it is pro syndicalist, but socialists say it because we support workers rights. Two separate issues. We also on the whole support the fight against racism and like Brown and Lincoln. It’s doesn’t sully their names that we have admiration for them. My point here is that socialists are going to support a lot of things and even if you disagree with us economically you shouldn’t just push against something simply because we support it.

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

​@@skinnyjasper3097 I see your point. I mostly agree with the general message of the song. However, the song still is associated with and used by socialists, and I find it disrespectful that a song dedicated to one of the greatest freedom fighters of all time has someone in the comments singing the tune of a song associated with an ideology that has caused the death and oppression of millions.

[@yoji0]

Belated happy John Brown's birthday, y'all

[@TaisonminMaxhama]

"They themselves the traitor crew"

[@hobartchapel9515]

And still flying their flag to this day...disgusting.

[@ganrimmonim]

This is a fantastic rendition.

[@justinwalters9811]

There should be statues of John Brown and General Sherman in parks all through the south. Remind them of what happens when they fuck around.

[@bardofarmagh]

beautiful !!! only issue is that it ends, i've already re-played it a few times lol

[@jimknable8377]

For anyone curious about my songwriting or what I sound like with a fiddle/upright bass/drums band, please check out this recent live concert recording: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHmWpaCig8RqaaM Thanks for being there, everybody!

[@F1lmtwit]

John Brown did nothing wrong.

[@rickyj5547]

But he did beheading people and act's of terrorism

[@Twigs1836]

@@rickyj5547 People? They were slaveowners, they didn't need their heads anyway

[@youdontknowme8129]

​@Twigs1836 DURN TOOTIN SKIPPY! Slave owners/krislavers are one in tha same! WHO DID THE BOUNTYHUNTER WORK! Do you honestly think these people were not violent themselves?! What are you special pleading for?! Please tell us!

[@user-cs7tc6cw1i]

How come this isn't HD video and perfect audio?

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

Where did you find this version of the song?

[@jimknable8377]

Chicago Tribune, December 16, 1861

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

@@jimknable8377 cool, because I didn’t find it in a google search

[@davidwright7193]

@@flyingsquirrell6953 obviously didn’t try very hard these words are on the Wikipedia page for this song.

[@1crazyplayer430]

Can you do a cover of the Mark Twain version of the song? It's called the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated or The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Brought Down to Date). Only the Chad Mitchell Trio have a rendition of it and I think you could make a much better version using the original lyrics they altered.

[@jamescai3490]

hi! do you have sheets/chords? i would like to learn to play this

[@jimknable8377]

You can look up Battle Hymn of the Republic chords and they will work for you. The rest is about trying to squeeze all these words in and around so they sound musical. Enjoy!

[@jamescai3490]

@@jimknable8377 ahh I forgot this was to the tune of battle hymn of the republic. alright thanks!

[@CaledonianGaisgeach]

One of my favourite renditions 2:00-2:10 it just sounds like their was emotion & passionate. I enjoy this very much!

[@West_Coast_Gang]

W song

[@DreamManmns]

Patriot

[@jamesyanchek779]

So. If John Brown was the "John the Baptist" of the bondsmen, who is their Christ? Is this a reference to Lincoln? Puts us in mind of the latter Battle Hymn of the Republic version w/ Christ being "...born across the sea..." & all of us being called upon to "...as he died to make men holy, let us died to make men free."

[@thenewcatgirl2727]

It could mean a number of things. Perhaps the Christ is reference to the army of the Union as a collective, or perhaps they indeed refer to Lincoln, with the Union army in the role of the angels of the Lord. Who do you think the Christ is, in this metaphor?

[@jamesyanchek779]

@@thenewcatgirl2727 Well, maybe Christ is the Christ of this song. The author perhaps simply meant that John Brown was doing God's work? If anyone thinks this language is over-the-top, they should review the actual lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Language taken directly from the Revelation of St. John (the apostle this time).

[@kratosboy5557]

I may believe in the religion of my ancestors Celtic paganism but he was a good man

[@AbominableBigfoot]

Make no mistake John Brown was a hero, but it was the slave who held the true strength and courage. Celebrate John Brown yes but do so in our solemn remembrance of the hateful crime of slavery. Do not forget the bravery of who he fought for.

[@Quentin217]

The slaves around Harper's Ferry wanted nothing to do with him. That is partly why he got caught.

[@thenewcatgirl2727]

​@@Quentin217Slaves, unfortunately, are oft caught between a rock and a hard place in slave revolutions. And historically, only one slave revolt ever truly succeeded to my knowledge, against the French in Hispaniola. While I cannot fault them for being unwilling to join in the fight, I still will celebrate their strength and perseverance against a truly evil oppression.

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

I think if John Brown would have been able to break out from Harper’s Ferry and definitively prove that he could be a liberator then he may have been successful.

[@stewblare2190]

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

[@awildpybro6018]

1:53

[@Wiener-Fag]

The overall beat n cadence sounds similar to Blood upon the risers

[@oscarwind4266]

Its the same tune with different words. It also shares the tune with the Battle Hymn of the Republic and a couple of others, I think.

[@mushedups5404]

@@oscarwind4266 John Brown's body was the original for Battle Hymn and others, it was adapted into such later on.

[@byoroo]

남군 군가와는 비장함이 달라, 이러니 북군이 이겼지

[@Turnil321]

Amerika heeft een traditie om goede muziek te maken over hun oorlogen. Kijk maar naar Vietnam.

[@simeonstilite]

French Emperor Napoléon III about the Civil War : If the North wins, I shall be delighted. If the South wins, I shall be extremely delighted.

[@tabletboy6861]

Anybody else thought he was bill Nye?

[@jimknable8377]

Assuming you mean the picture of John Brown, not me. Either way, it’s a fascinating observation.

[@jasonbrewer6714]

Bill nye the anti slavery guy.

[@rickyj5547]

Not in my name

[@kratosboy5557]

Play this to a Neo confederate

[@cg98243]

An immensely ill and troubled man who happened to listen to the right voice.

[@nbenefiel]

The Civil War was fought over slavery. I read the Congressional Record for the time leading up to Ft Sumpter. The Southern congressmen talked of 2 things, their right to own, sell and buy human beings. That and the inherent superiority of whites over blacks. No mention of states rights ( except to own Slaves), no mention of agrarian v industrialized economies, no mention of tarries. Just slavery. A Mercian chattel slavery was hideous. Families were separated. Young women were raped by their owners and the children were later sold. There were whippings and murders. We fought the worst war in our nations history to stop this evil which infested our country.

[@Quentin217]

If you imagine that the evils of slavery and slavery itself is a thing of the past that ended with the defeat of the Confederacy, you are soon to be shocked down to your foundatons. With no help and much resistance from the mainstream/lamestream fake media, the awful truth about human trafficking over the US southern border is gradually coming out. You will be amazed at the scale and the cruelty of it. You will be amazed at who in the national government has been paid off by the drug and human trafficking cartels.

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

One post which was deleted… I wonder what it said…

[@koolmckool7039]

Remember, on May 24-25 1856, John Brown and his sons did nothing wrong at 3 cabins along the Pottawatomie creek.

[@joshjacob1530]

What phenotype was he? Is he mixed?

[@LakeGameCreepr]

why does it matter. he was american

[@DotDotDot0272]

He was American.

[@redhen2123]

Sic semper tyrannis !

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

Yes - Death to Davis

[@Quentin217]

I read a couple biographies of old John Brown. I also visited the Kennedy Farm where he hid out with his 19 men in the summer of 1859. I followed the route of his pre-dawn march to Harper's Ferry and saw the place by the C & O Railroad where John Brown's body was returned to his wife. I also visited the firehouse where he was caught and where one of his sons died. It is my conviction that the life of John Brown and the evolution of events that led up to the terrible war, which he had knowingly done much to create, is a tragic case history of how a man and how a society can go horribly wrong. This song honouring his memory illustrates that same kind of madness which drove old John Brown and which also drove the war. When I walked over some to the blood-soaked, ghost-haunted battleflieds of that war, I felt a sense of tragedy that I can not describe but I feel it again and again every time I think about it, and I am feeling it again now as I write this. I have heard other renditions of this song on You Tube and have read the comments on those and on this one. A few are mine. A few others make some sense to me. A great many praise the man for his worst aspects in the later years of his life and reflect that awful sentiment that drove old John Brown and contributed to the deaths of at least 650,000 men and an untold number of civilians, and the physical, psychological, or material ruin of hundreds of thousands of others. Many of those people were negroes. The hateful propaganda of the time lives on through those comments. For that the tragedy lives on also and can be manifested again in our time in the form of new violence. Consider the polemics of our own society circa 2023: liberty vs. ham-fisted government tyranny; right to life vs. murdering babies; truth vs. lies; light vs. dark; US Consitition vs. leftwing fascism; good vs. evil.

[@skinnyjasper3097]

Fascism is inherently right wing dumbass. Very time it rises the communists and other left wingers are the first to go.

[@p.a.andrews7772]

People sure were stupid at that time in history .

[@Quentin217]

A lot of them are not any smarter now. I see that by the comments section. Brainwashed sheeple.

[@deniedprawn4224]

People be commenting about people from the past but not remembering those who are from a more recent time (ish) that killed a lot more people for lesser reasons (Mao Zedong for an example with with 47,263,517 victims. That surpasses Hitler and Stalin)

[@CarpeVerpa]

What do any of them have to do with John Brown or this video?

[@deniedprawn4224]

@@CarpeVerpa it’s mainly for people who go to say about “Oh this historical figure is a mass murderer” or “This dude is now rotting in hell for killing certain people for some beneficial reasoning that changed the course of history as we know it, so he doesn’t deserve to be praised” as said mainly for folks like that.

[@skinnyjasper3097]

Not defending Mao here, he was a piece of shit and if there is a hell he is rotting in it. But your number is too high. Plenty of the people who died under his regime died due to famine. Sure he exacerbated it but the famine was already happening. China had these famines regularly and they had just finished a twenty year long civil war. Plus the US dropped a bunch of bugs with diseases over China to cause said famine. He killed plenty of people through purging but 47 million is far too high a number

[@rickyj5547]

19 century version of lsis. Who beheaded his victim's

[@user-bz3kd2mt3u]

do you think ISIS is bad solely because of their method of execution?

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

It's depressing how socialists and anarchists use this song as an anthem. Such disrespect.

[@CarpeVerpa]

Why so?

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

@@CarpeVerpa Because John Brown was an American hero who fought for liberty for all. A song honoring him shouldn't be associated with communism, socialism, anarchism, or any other kind of disguised fascism.

[@CarpeVerpa]

@@TaxFraudCommitter Ah, okay, so you have no idea what any of those words mean. Got it.

[@TaxFraudCommitter]

@@CarpeVerpa I know perfectly what they mean. I'm a former communist who used to spend all his time studying the types of socialism and the differences between them.

[@CarpeVerpa]

@@TaxFraudCommitter It doesn't seem like you really understood it too well if you'd say even *anarchism* is a form of fascism. It's also wrong to make that comparison with socialism or communism, but I can kind of understand how someone would make that mistake.

[@lawrencewood289]

Sorry but why is anyone listening to this pallid version of the song. Gloria Jane, Pete Seeger and others have released much better versions also on KZbin. My apologies to Mr. Knable but this version distracts from better ones.

[@jimknable8377]

To my knowledge, there is not a recording of this version of the song with these specific lyrics, so it was actually recorded as a historical record. It was and continues to be used as a teaching tool--first for an "American History through Song" online course that I had the pleasure and honor to run for an American history institute in 2020. Please listen to other versions of it! I think that's a great idea! It is the folk song tradition to pass these songs around and make them your own. While I'm sorry to hear you don't like this version or my rendition of it, I don't think it distracts from anything. Here's hoping it leads people to look for more. Thank you for your fine recommendations of where to start, Jim

[@lawrencewood289]

@@jimknable8377 Thank you for your comment and yes as you say preserving these folk songs and their lyrical variations is great.

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

The commercial artists cleaned up the original versions to do what they did. The song was made up on the March by the troops going to Washington from the North, all volunteers, after the attack on Fort Sumter by the slave holding confederates. The version song by the men who were going to give their lives to help free other men should be respected.

[@lawrencewood289]

@@gerardmichaelburnsjr. Until you show what was "cleaned up" it is impossible to evaluate your post.

[@MGTOWPaladin]

The Heyward Shepherd monument is a monument in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, constructed in 1931. It commemorates Heyward (sometimes spelled "Hayward" or "Heywood") Shepherd (1825 - October 17, 1859), a free black man, who was the first person killed during John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. On October 17, 1859, abolitionist John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry to launch a war against slavery. Heyward Shepherd, a free African-American railroad baggage master, was shot and killed by Brown's men shortly after midnight. I suppose that is ONE WAY to set a man free, Mr Brown!

[@samsungsmartfridge3173]

His men were blocking a railroad track and they shot at those who approached, they had no idea who he was. Big difference.

[@MGTOWPaladin]

@@samsungsmartfridge3173 Murder is murder!

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

Just like how rebellion is rebellion.

[@MGTOWPaladin]

@@flyingsquirrell6953 Do you mean the legal definition of rebellion or when the term rebellion is applied somewhere else?

[@flyingsquirrell6953]

@@MGTOWPaladin “Well you see the 10th amendment says I can kill my fellow countrymen just because I lost an election.”