The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124302   Message #2745424
Posted By: Barbara Shaw
13-Oct-09 - 09:12 PM
Thread Name: Songs to the John Brown/Battle Hymn tune
Subject: RE: Songs to the John·Brown/Battle·Hymn tune
We recorded a medley of three versions on our ShoreGrass album Songs of the Civil War Era (recorded live in 2003). The first 2 verses are from John Brown's Body. Next 2 are from the marching song of the 1st Arkansas (black) regiment, with lyrics credited to the white officer Capt Lindley Miller. Last 2 verses from the Battle Hymn of the Republic. My source for most of the information was Irwin Silber's book "Songs of the Civil War."

John Brown's Body, 1st of Arkansas, Battle Hymn of the Republic

John Brown's body lies a mould'ring in the grave
John Brown's body lies a mould'ring in the grave
John Brown's body lies a mould'ring in the grave
His soul is 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!
He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord!
His soul is marching on!

Glory! Glory Hallelujah! Glory! Glory Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory Hallelujah! His soul is marching on.

Oh, we're the bully soldiers of the "First of Arkansas"
We are fighting for the union, we are fighting for the law
We can hit a Rebel further than a white man ever saw
As we go marching on.

See there above the center where the flag is waving bright
We are going out of slavery; we're bound for freedom's light
We mean to show Jeff Davis how the Africans can fight
As we go marching on!

Glory! Glory Hallelujah! Glory! Glory Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory Hallelujah! As we go marching on.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me
As he died to make men holy let us die to make men free
While God is marching on.

Glory! Glory Hallelujah! Glory! Glory Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory Hallelujah! While God is marching on.