A traditional Union marching song, honoring abolitionist John Brown.
Lyrics written by William Weston Patton.
[Verse 1]
G
Old John Brown’s body lies moldering in the grave,
C G
While weep the sons of bondage whom he ventured all to save;
B7 Em
But tho he lost his life while struggling for the slave,
Am D G
His soul is marching on.
[Chorus]
G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
C G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
B7 Em Am D G
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
[Verse 2]
G
John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true and brave,
C G
And Kansas knows his valor when he fought her rights to save;
B7 Em
Now, tho the grass grows green above his grave,
Am D G
His soul is marching on.
[Chorus]
G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
C G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
B7 Em Am D G
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
[Verse 3]
G
He captured Harper’s Ferry, with his nineteen men so few,
C G
And frightened "Old Virginny" till she trembled thru and thru;
B7 Em
They hung him for a traitor, themselves the traitor crew,
Am D G
But his soul is marching on.
[Chorus]
G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
C G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
B7 Em Am D G
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
[Verse 4]
G
John Brown was John the Baptist of the Christ we are to see,
C G
Christ who of the bondmen shall the Liberator be,
B7 Em
And soon throughout the Sunny South the slaves shall all be free,
Am D G
For his soul is marching on.
[Chorus]
G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
C G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
B7 Em Am D G
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
[Verse 5]
G
The conflict that he heralded he looks from heaven to view,
C G
On the army of the Union with its flag red, white and blue.
B7 Em
And heaven shall ring with anthems o’er the deed they mean to do,
Am D G
For his soul is marching on.
[Chorus]
G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
C G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
B7 Em Am D G
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
[Verse 6]
G
Ye soldiers of Freedom, then strike, while strike ye may,
C G
The death blow of oppression in a better time and way,
B7 Em
For the dawn of old John Brown has brightened into day,
Am D G
And his soul is marching on.
[Chorus]
G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
C G
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
B7 Em Am D G
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
