Old John Browns 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 Harpers Ferry, with his nineteen men so few,
- And frightened "Old Virginny" till she trembled thru and thru;
- They hung him for a traitor, they 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 oer 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.
- -Wm Weston Patton
