#399 - John Brown

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• Composer:
  • William Steffe, 1853
• Also known as:
  • John Brown's Body
  • The Battle Hymn of the Republic
• MIDI | show
  
• Incipit: 55435123432166711765635
• Condensed Incipit: 54351234321671765635
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• Lyrics:
  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.
  
  chorus:
  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.
  
  John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
  John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
  His soul goes marching on.
  
  John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
  John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
  His soul goes marching on.
  
  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.
  
  
  • traditional

Originally a camp-meeting song with the traditional “Glory Hallelujah” refrain, during the Civil War it became a Union army marching song.