John Brown's Body

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Text from John Brown's Body in the second known publication from 1861

John Brown's Body is a marching song composed soon after the execution of the American abolitionist John Brown in 1859 . The melody is popular; the authorship of the text is disputed.

During the civil war , the song soon became the preferred march of the Union troops . Different text variants are used; common to all is the opening stanza .

text

(one of the variants with translation)

|: 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.

Refrain:
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, 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.
His soul goes marching on.
refrain

|: John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back. : |
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back.
His soul goes marching on.
refrain

|: John Brown died that the slaves might be free. : |
John Brown died that the slaves might be free.
His soul goes marching on.
refrain

|: 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.
refrain
|: John Brown's corpse lies modern in the grave: |
John Brown's corpse lies modern in the grave,
But his soul marches on

Refrain:
Honor, honor, alleluia!
Honor, honor (honor) Hallelujah!
Honor, honor, alleluia!
His soul marches on

|: He left to serve as a soldier in the Lord's Army. : |
He went to serve as a soldier in the Lord's Army.
His soul marches on
refrain

|: John Brown's backpack is strapped to his back. : |
John Brown's backpack is strapped to his back.
His soul marches on
refrain

|: John Brown died so the slaves could be free. : |
John Brown died so the slaves could be free.
His soul marches on.
refrain

|: The stars up in the sky are now looking down gently. : |
The stars up in the sky are now looking down gently.
His soul marches on.
refrain

Audio sample

aftermath

Numerous deviating texts in different languages ​​have been written for this melody. The best known and most important new version is The Battle Hymn of the Republic , a adaptation by Julia Ward Howe . The nursery rhyme All children learn to read and the French Christmas chanson "La plus belle nuit du monde" were also composed based on this melody.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ ingeb.org