Lyr ADD: Mary Brown, Abolitionist (Peggy Eyres)

Subject: Lyr Req: John Brown's Last Letter
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 11:00 AM

A few years back someone sang this at the Getaway. It is John Brown's last letter to his wife. Anyone know it? The tune?
Mary LaMarca may have been the singer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Last Letter
From: georgeward
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 11:33 PM

Sins,

Do you perhaps mean "Mary Brown, Abolitionist". an adaptation of Mary's last letter to John Brown ? The chorus begins, "We may not see the slaves go free/Neither did Moses reach the Promised Land." If so, it is the work of Peggy Lynn (quercusmusic.com). If not, sorry for the red herring.

George

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Last Letter
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 04:28 PM

That's it, George. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Last Letter
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Sep 07 - 11:58 PM

Allmusic.com says MARY BROWN, ABOLITIONIST was written recorded* by Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino, members of a duo called Magpie. Magpie's recording appears on 2 albums: "Give Light" (1999) and "John Brown: Sword of the Spirit" (2000).

Here's a longer quote:

We may not see the slaves go free,
Neither did Moses reach the promised land.
Still none could be more blessed than we,
Who are an instrument in God's hand.

[* Erroneous information corrected (apparently the error was committed by Allmusic.com.)]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Brown, Abolitionist
From: GUEST,999
Date: 13 Sep 12 - 09:48 PM

Mary Brown, Abolitionist - words & music by Peggy Eyres

This song is the one that started it all. Our friend Dan Berggren passed this wonderful song onto us, and its poignancy had us both in tears. We learned it almost immediately and have been singing it ever since. Peggy is a wonderful singer from the Adirondacks who does a lot of the same kind of work we do in history and the environment.

The above is from

http://www.magpiemusic.com/brown_cd.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Brown, Abolitionist
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 01:31 AM

OK, I have the recording and I can transcribe it if nobody else can, but I've been transcribing about one song a day. Can't somebody else transcribe it? It's on Spotify.

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: MARY BROWN, ABOLITIONIST (Peggy Eyres)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 01:45 PM

I made this transcription mainly from this recording on YouTube of a performance by Peggy Eyres and Dan Berggren, from their album "Cloudsplitter." (There is another recording here where the performers are identified as "Kol Dereckh Hatzafon.") This web page at Quercus Music seems to imply that Peggy Eyres and Peggy Lynn are the same person, Eyres having changed her name to Lynn after the album was released.


MARY BROWN, ABOLITIONIST
Written by Peggy Eyres
As sung by Peggy Eyres and Dan Berggren on their album "Cloudsplitter"

November first, eighteen fifty-nine.
Dear John, affectionate husband of mine:
Mister Higginson, [the] newsman, came today.
I regretfully heard what he had to say.

He told me of the trial your righteousness denied(?).
He formed an escort; I will be there by your side.
Before they hang you, we will have time to share
Our plans to bring you home, and one final prayer.

CHORUS: We may not see the slaves go free;
Neither did Moses reach the promised land,
Still none could be more blessed than we,
Who are an instrument in God's hand.

All along we knew our plan would have its risk.
Still I prayed your fate would not come to this.
If you had fallen beside our two brave sons,
Your words of freedom could not do what they have done.

Oliver and Watson made their sacrifice.
Harper's Ferry battle exacted its price.
Soldiers for our cause cannot be bought or found.
Our sons and daughters by faith are duty-bound. CHORUS.

Here in North Elba, we women carry on.
All are making ready so I might leave at dawn.
Oliver's widow has a fever running wild.
I doubt the future of her unborn child.

Sarah and Ellen, it seems, are middlin' well.
They did not shrink from the news I had to tell.
I know that they will miss your presence in their lives.
Your love and faithfulness in them are burning bright. CHORUS

Your loving wife, Mary.