Singing quartet in residence with the 12th Massachusetts Regiment


Originals

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Covers

  • Cover of SAY BROTHERS WILL YOU MEET US in 1859 - als John Brown's Body; John Brown was a (white) abolitionist who in 1859 with 21 (black & white) companions led a raid on the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia to capture enough weaponry to distribute among black slaves in the hope this action would trigger a mass slave uprising in the South. Four men were killed during this failed attempt. John was captured (by colonel Robert E. Lee), judged and hanged; when the Boston based soldiers of this regiment heard about the execution of abolitionist John Brown, his namesake in the regiment spontaneously exclaimed: "But he still goes marching around", which of course was met with roaring enthusiasm among his fellow comrades; and as said John Brown 'in residence' was also part of this Regiment's singing quartet, it's but a small step to believe the John Brown's Body song, etched upon the Say Brothers tune, popular among troops for it's march friendly quality, spread as wildfire from this Boston base; fact is John Brown's Body soon became the official marching song of that 12th Regiment; singing it in public since 1861 earned them the nickname The Hallelujah Regiment; by the time their own John Brown was killed in action, the whole Union army sang their song; the knapsack verse of the official John Brown's Body lyrics was probably also inspired by his namesake Boston corporal; as freshmen learning to pack their knapsack efficiently, John's was by far the largest, triggering the obvious remark: Knapsack, where you're going with that man; promptly countered by Brown's: "John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back and his soul will march on as far as any of you" and it also stuck

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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