album cover
artist
The Staple Singers
John Brown
667
R&B/Soul
John Brown was released on January 1, 2015 by Stax as a part of the album Faith and Grace: A Family Journey 1953-1976
album cover
AlbumFaith and Grace: A Family Journey 1953-1976
Release DateJanuary 1, 2015
LabelStax
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
The Staple Singers
The Staple Singers
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Songwriter

Lyrics

John Brown went off to war
To fight on a foreign shore
His mother sure was proud of him
And he stood so straight and tall
With his uniform and all
Her face broke right out into a grin
She said "Son, you look so fine
I'm glad you a son of mine
Makes me proud to know that you wear a gun
Do what that captain says
Lots of medals you will get
And we'll put them on the wall when you come home"
When that old train pulled out
John's mom began to shout
Tellin' everybody in the neighborhood
"That's my son who's about to go
He's a soldier now, you know"
She made well sure her neighbors understood
She got a letter once in a while
And her face broke into a smile
Showin' them to her friend from next door
And she bragged about her son
With his uniform and gun
And this thing she called a good old-fashioned war
Then the letters ceased to come
For a long time they did not come
And they ceased to come for about ten months or more
Then a letter finally came
Sayin' "Go down and meet the train
Your son's a-comin' home from the war"
Oh, she smiled and went right down
She looked up and all around
But her soldier son's face she didn't see in sight
But when all the people passed
She saw her son at last
When she did, she could hardly believe her eyes
For his face was all shot up
And his hands were both blown off
And he wore a metal brace around his waist
And he whispered kind of slow
In a voice she did not know
She couldn't even recognize his face
She said "Oh, my darlin' son
Lord, what they gone and done?
How is it that you come to be this way?"
When the boy tried to speak
His mouth could hardly move
And his mother had to turn her face away
He said "Do you remember, Ma
When I went off to war?
You thought it was the best thing that I could do
I was on that battleground
You were home actin' proud
Thank God you wasn't standin' in my shoes
"And you know when I was there
I said 'What am I doin' here?
I've got to kill somebody or die tryin'
But the thing that scared me most
When my enemy came so close
I could see that his face looked just like mine
"Through the thunder, wind and stink
I couldn't help but think
That I'm just a puppet in a play
Through the thunder, wind and smoke
The string it finally broke
And a cannonball blew my eyes away"
When the boy turned to walk
His mother was still in shock
As she saw that metal brace which helped him stand
But when he turned to go
He called his mother close
And he dropped his medals down into her hand
Written by: Bob Dylan

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Chrome Web Store
Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2026 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out􀆄 copy􀐅􀋲

Loading...