His conscience was a searing
that lit the Kansas plains
the sweat of slaves, it would confound
the South's ill-gotten gains.
He led a band of ragtag men
from servi tude and slumber
and offered them their calling
in plumes of smoke and thunder
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
as he swayed above the ground,
the weight of shackles all around,
no one could turn their eyes away
til they cut him down
Old Man Brown
A prophet's message is reviled
until death stills his voice
It's safer then to champion
his grim and lonely choice.
A seer or a madman
the history books now weigh
but all agree he was the spark
that lit the Judgment Day.
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
as he swayed above the ground,
the weight of shackles all around,
no one could turn their eyes away
til they cut him down
Old Man Brown
higher callings always seem to bring the good men down.
For Brown it was a rope hangin' there in Charles Town
But as he swayed above the ground,
the wail of shackles all around,
no one turned their eyes away
til they cut him down
Old Man Brown
that lit the Kansas plains
the sweat of slaves, it would confound
the South's ill-gotten gains.
He led a band of ragtag men
from servi tude and slumber
and offered them their calling
in plumes of smoke and thunder
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
as he swayed above the ground,
the weight of shackles all around,
no one could turn their eyes away
til they cut him down
Old Man Brown
A prophet's message is reviled
until death stills his voice
It's safer then to champion
his grim and lonely choice.
A seer or a madman
the history books now weigh
but all agree he was the spark
that lit the Judgment Day.
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
Old Man Brown, Old Man Brown
as he swayed above the ground,
the weight of shackles all around,
no one could turn their eyes away
til they cut him down
Old Man Brown
higher callings always seem to bring the good men down.
For Brown it was a rope hangin' there in Charles Town
But as he swayed above the ground,
the wail of shackles all around,
no one turned their eyes away
til they cut him down
Old Man Brown
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