I went back home and I got my parents.
I loaded them in to a buckboard hike.
We crossed six states
and other slaves followed.
Up to Canada made our tracks.
One slave got scared
and he tried to turn backwards
I pulled my pistol in front of his eyes
I said get up and walk to your freedom
Or by this fireball you will die
When John Brown hit them
at Harper's Ferry,
my men was fighting right by his side.
When John Brown swung upon his gallows,
it was then I hung my head and cried.
Give the black man guns
and give him powder to a blink.
And this I said,
you've just crippled that
snake of slavery.
We've got to fight to kill him dead.
When we faced the guns of lightning,
and the thunders broke our sleep.
After we waded the bloody rainstorms,
it was dead men that we reaped.
Yes, we faced the zig -zag lightning,
But it was worth the price we paid.
When our thunder had rumbled over,
We'd laid slavery in its grave.
Come now and stand
around my deathbed,
and I will sing some spirit songs.
I'm on my way to my greater union.
Now my ninety -three years are gone.