Terrible Swift Sword

Is physical violence ever justified in countering tyranny? One such individual in American history thought so-the abolitionist John Brown who believed only through violence could the evil system of slavery be put to an end. In 1856 Brown moved with his sons to the State of Kansas where there was a tremendous conflict between the pro and anti-slavery forces.
Certain events angered Brown tremendously. There were attacks on abolitionists by pro-slavery men and a few incidents of murder across the country. In Kansas the government shut down the anti-slavery press and arrested anti-slavery leaders. One day in the US senate, an anti-slavery Senator, Charles Sumner, was almost beaten to death by a pro-slavery Congressman with a cane on the senate floor.
As a result of this incident, Brown decided to take revenge against pro-slavery men. He singled out three families living in a small village called Pottawattamie. With one family he killed a father and his two sons who were in their early twenties. In all five men were targeted. Brown and his group used both pistols and swords to kill the victims, in some cases, cutting off heads and some body parts.
Brown was never arrested for these murders. He expressed contempt for those who did not want to take up arms to end the evil institution of slavery. Anti-slavery proponents however hailed his actions as they were victims too of brutality and unjust laws by pro-slavery forces.
In 1859, Brown led a raid on a federal arsenal called Harper’s Ferry in the State of Virginia. Two of his sons were killed there and he was arrested, tried for treason, and hung.
The widow of one of the men who was killed by Brown wrote a letter to him right before his execution saying she was glad he was now getting his just rewards. Her sentiments and contents of the letter are expressed in my new song TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD.
Despite being on the right side of history, Brown’s actions did not seem justified as he selected his victims randomly and killed them merely to send a message to the pro-slavery cause.
Brown’s rage was understandable and to this day he is seen as a hero by African Americans. John Brown’s actions were a prelude to the bloodiest of conflicts in US history.
Terrible Swift Sword
(V1F) Tomorrow no sorrow
For you and your wicked gang
You’re diminished/now quite finished
Tomorrow you shall hang
In Kansas, you did brand us
As the Devil’s troop
No more silence, a man so violent
Now you’ll hear the truth
(Pre-chorus F)
You took my husband out and my two sons
You chased them down, you fired your gun
It was blasphemy in the name of the Lord
Finished them off with your terrible swift sword
(V2M)
In Kansas, you did hand us
Our sweetest victory
In Kansas, you couldn’t stand us
We cursed your slavery
We tried to mend it/now we’ll end it
Keep the devil at bay
We took a sample, made an example
Someone had to pay
(pre-chorus M)
They perverted justice, twisted all the laws
They spit into the face of our Holy Lord
Now someone had to answer, no one could ignore
Feel the mighty thrust of our terrible swift sword
(Chorus-F)
John Brown’s body is headed for the grave
His wretched soul it cannot be saved
We had no slaves, not one could we afford
But you cut them down with Your Terrible Swift Sword
(Verse 3-F)
At Harper’s Ferry, you were so merry
Did you have much fun?
Like this widow, it’s no riddle
Now you too have lost your sons
Your bloody hand, stretched ‘cross the land//Never did you balk
They followed laws//opposed your cause/ //All of it was just talk
(Pre-chorus M)
Why should we feel sorry for all you wives? //Your men threatened us, claimed they’d take our lives
We had no choice, we were ordered by the Lord
Had to cut them down, with our terrible swift sword
(Chorus-M)
John Brown’s body is headed for the grave
I was sent by the Almighty, to free the slaves
Blood must be spilled, that’s what we’re headed toward
I struck first, with my terrible swift sword
Bridge (Female) There were threats on all asides
Like blueberries in June
You found your scapegoats
Now it’s High Noon
How clever you are
There’s blood on the moon
You’ll swing from the noose
And not a moment too soon
Chorus instrumental
Verse (female)
In Kansas/so outlandish what you did to me
All the killing/you’re fulfilling/a deadly prophecy
Verse (Male)
In Kansas/you did brandish
The devil’s heinous stash
We made our move/when you approved
The Overseer’s lash
Pre-chorus (female)
I cannot forget it’s now set in stone
Haunted by their screams and their dying moans
Vengeance don’t you know is not mine/
But your fiendish career was stopped in the nick of time
Chorus (female)
John Brown’s body is headed for the grave
His wretched soul it cannot be saved
Praying now you’ll get your just reward
And put an end to your terrible swift sword