Liberty For All Mankind

Liberty For All Mankind
© Surazeus
2009 10 16

Thunder crackles over Virginia hills
when John Brown stands by an oak
and raising a sword to heaven shouts
we will rise up against all evil men
who enslave other men with chains
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Holding a sword given to Washington
by Fredericus Magnus King of Prussia
John Brown leads small army of God
to raid armory fort of Harpers Ferry
to free slaves bound by iron chains
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Leading twenty-one men in moonlight
John Brown captures armory brick hall
proclaiming other men were all talk
but we will act to fight against tyranny
and free slaves to pursue happiness
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Colonel Robert Edward Lee of Arlington
leads United States Marines at dawn
to surround armory with rifles and law
and calls for John Brown to surrender
but he shouts I will fight to free slaves
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Calling for slaves to rise in rebellion
John Brown grips rifle ready to die
as Marines break open door and fire
and someone strikes him with a sword
and he falls fighting to free slaves
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Captured and locked in jail at sunrise
John Brown refuses all secret offers
to accept slavery in return for freedom
proclaiming better I die for this cause
for my death will help free all slaves
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Paraded on trial in court of justice
Old Man Brown is sentenced to be hung
so he stands preaching in bold voice
we must fight to abolish chains of greed
and free minds from slavery and hate
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

I John Brown am now quite certain
that crimes of this guilty land will
never be purged away without blood
so I give my life as a willing sacrifice
and spill my blood to free all slaves
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Standing in court John Brown speaks
I deny intent to kill but I will admit
design on my part to free all slaves
for I do not fight for powerful and rich
rather I fight them to break iron chains
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

I see a book kissed here our Holy Bible
that teaches me to treat other men
how I want them to treat me in turn
and remember those who are in bonds
as bound with them united for freedom
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

My fight on behalf of despised poor
is right so I should forfeit my own life
to further ends of justice for all men
and mingle my blood with millions
in this slave country to break chains
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Hearing that Old Man Brown of Kansas
is sentenced to die for fighting slavery
Ralph Waldo Emerson bows his head
and declares John Brown makes gallows
glorious as cross of Jesus to free slaves
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Lead from court to be hung at dawn
he sees Malvinia holding baby Dolphus
so he leans down and kisses her cheek
as small hands tug at his snowy beard
and whispers I fight for you to be free
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Lightning flashes over Virginia hills
when hero of Ossawatomie is hung
that sparks civil war to end slavery
and remake America as a free republic
to liberate millions of souls from chains
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

My brother descended from Tenth Muse
Anne Bradstreet of Massachusetts
John Brown rises from grave of death
and leads millions to fight for freedom
and break chains of slavery and greed
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Praying by a river Frederick Douglass
preaches John began war to end slavery
so his zeal for cause of freedom shines
as a burning sun for I live for slaves
but Old Man Kansas died for slaves
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Soldiers gripping rifles sing out bold
my eyes see glory of our coming lord
trampling on fresh grapes of wrath
as he looses lightning of a swift sword
for his truth is marching on to freedom
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.

Spirit of John Brown of Ossawatomie
strides over vast landscape of America
then he raises Excalibur Sword of Arthur
and leads countless men with good hearts
to abolish slavery with love for truth
and we battle for liberty for all mankind.