John Brown
(To be sung by a leader and chorus, the leader singing
the body of the poem, while the chorus interrupts with
the question.)
I’ve been to Palestine.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN PALESTINE?
I saw the ark of Noah—
It was made of pitch and pine.
I saw old Father Noah
Asleep beneath his vine.
I saw Shem, Ham and Japhet
Standing in a line.
I saw the tower of Babel
In the gorgeous sunrise shine—
By a weeping willow tree
Beside the Dead Sea.
I’ve been to Palestine.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN PALESTINE?
I saw abominations
And Gadarene swine.
I saw the sinful Canaanites
Upon the shewbread dine,
And spoil the temple vessels
And drink the temple wine.
I saw Lot’s wife, a pillar of salt
Standing in the brine—
By a weeping willow tree
Beside the Dead Sea.
I’ve been to Palestine.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN PALESTINE?
Cedars on Mount Lebanon,
Gold in Ophir’s mine,
And a wicked generation
Seeking for a sign
And Baal’s howling worshippers
Their god with leaves entwine.
And . . .
I saw the war-horse ramping
And shake his forelock fine—
By a weeping willow tree
Beside the Dead Sea.
I’ve been to Palestine.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN PALESTINE?
Old John Brown.
Old John Brown.
I saw his gracious wife
Dressed in a homespun gown.
I saw his seven sons
Before his feet bow down.
And he marched with his seven sons,
His wagons and goods and guns,
To his campfire by the sea,
By the waves of Galilee.
I’ve been to Palestine.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN PALESTINE?
I saw the harp and psalt’ry
Played for Old John Brown.
I heard the ram’s horn blow,
Blow for Old John Brown.
I saw the Bulls of Bashan—
They cheered for Old John Brown.
I saw the big Behemoth—
He cheered for Old John Brown.
I saw the big Leviathan—
He cheered for Old John Brown.
I saw the Angel Gabriel
Great power to him assign.
I saw him fight the Canaanites
And set God’s Israel free.
I saw him when the war was done
In his rustic chair recline—
By his campfire by the sea,
By the waves of Galilee.
I’ve been to Palestine.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN PALESTINE?
Old John Brown.
Old John Brown.
And there he sits
To judge the world.
His hunting-dogs
At his feet are curled.
His eyes half-closed,
But John Brown sees
The ends of the earth,
The Day of Doom.
And his shot-gun lies
Across his knees—
Old John Brown,
Old John Brown.
poem by Vachel Lindsay

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Related quotes
The Booker Washington Trilogy
I. A NEGRO SERMON:—SIMON LEGREE
(To be read in your own variety of negro dialect.)
Legree's big house was white and green.
His cotton-fields were the best to be seen.
He had strong horses and opulent cattle,
And bloodhounds bold, with chains that would rattle.
His garret was full of curious things:
Books of magic, bags of gold,
And rabbits' feet on long twine strings.
But he went down to the Devil.
Legree he sported a brass-buttoned coat,
A snake-skin necktie, a blood-red shirt.
Legree he had a beard like a goat,
And a thick hairy neck, and eyes like dirt.
His puffed-out cheeks were fish-belly white,
He had great long teeth, and an appetite.
He ate raw meat, 'most every meal,
And rolled his eyes till the cat would squeal.
His fist was an enormous size
To mash poor niggers that told him lies:
He was surely a witch-man in disguise.
But he went down to the Devil.
He wore hip-boots, and would wade all day
To capture his slaves that had fled away.
But he went down to the Devil.
He beat poor Uncle Tom to death
Who prayed for Legree with his last breath.
Then Uncle Tom to Eva flew,
To the high sanctoriums bright and new;
And Simon Legree stared up beneath,
And cracked his heels, and ground his teeth:
And went down to the Devil.
He crossed the yard in the storm and gloom;
He went into his grand front room.
He said, "I killed him, and I don't care."
He kicked a hound, he gave a swear;
He tightened his belt, he took a lamp,
Went down cellar to the webs and damp.
There in the middle of the mouldy floor
He heaved up a slab, he found a door —
And went down to the Devil.
His lamp blew out, but his eyes burned bright.
Simon Legree stepped down all night —
Down, down to the Devil.
Simon Legree he reached the place,
He saw one half of the human race,
He saw the Devil on a wide green throne,
Gnawing the meat from a big ham-bone,
And he said to Mister Devil:
"I see that you have much to eat —
A red ham-bone is surely sweet.
I see that you have lion's feet;
I see your frame is fat and fine,
I see you drink your poison wine —
Blood and burning turpentine."
And the Devil said to Simon Legree:
"I like your style, so wicked and free.
Come sit and share my throne with me,
And let us bark and revel."
And there they sit and gnash their teeth,
And each one wears a hop-vine wreath.
They are matching pennies and shooting craps,
They are playing poker and taking naps.
And old Legree is fat and fine:
He eats the fire, he drinks the wine —
Blood and burning turpentine —
Down, down with the Devil;
Down, down with the Devil;
Down, down with the Devil.
II. JOHN BROWN
(To be sung by a leader and chorus, the leader singing the body of the poem, while the chorus interrupts with the question.)
I've been to Palestine.
What did you see in Palestine?
I saw the ark of Noah —
It was made of pitch and pine.
I saw old Father Noah
Asleep beneath his vine.
I saw Shem, Ham and Japhet
Standing in a line.
I saw the tower of Babel
In the gorgeous sunrise shine —
By a weeping willow tree
Beside the Dead Sea.
I've been to Palestine.
What did you see in Palestine?
I saw abominations
And Gadarene swine.
I saw the sinful Canaanites
Upon the shewbread dine,
And spoil the temple vessels
And drink the temple wine.
I saw Lot's wife, a pillar of salt
Standing in the brine —
By a weeping willow tree
Beside the Dead Sea.
I've been to Palestine.
What did you see in Palestine?
Cedars on Mount Lebanon,
Gold in Ophir's mine,
And a wicked generation
Seeking for a sign
And Baal's howling worshippers
Their god with leaves entwine.
And...
I saw the war-horse ramping
And shake his forelock fine —
By a weeping willow tree
Beside the Dead Sea.
I've been to Palestine.
What did you see in Palestine?
Old John Brown.
Old John Brown.
I saw his gracious wife
Dressed in a homespun gown.
I saw his seven sons
Before his feet bow down.
And he marched with his seven sons,
His wagons and goods and guns,
To his campfire by the sea,
By the waves of Galilee.
I've been to Palestine.
What did you see in Palestine?
I saw the harp and psalt'ry
Played for Old John Brown.
I heard the ram's horn blow,
Blow for Old John Brown.
I saw the Bulls of Bashan —
They cheered for Old John Brown.
I saw the big Behemoth —
He cheered for Old John Brown.
I saw the big Leviathan —
He cheered for Old John Brown.
I saw the Angel Gabriel
Great power to him assign.
I saw him fight the Canaanites
And set God's Israel free.
I saw him when the war was done
In his rustic chair recline —
By his campfire by the sea,
By the waves of Galilee.
I've been to Palestine.
What did you see in Palestine?
Old John Brown.
Old John Brown.
And there he sits
To judge the world.
His hunting-dogs
At his feet are curled.
His eyes half-closed,
But John Brown sees
The ends of the earth,
The Day of Doom.
And his shot-gun lies
Across his knees —
Old John Brown,
Old John Brown.
III. KING SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
(A Poem Game.)
"And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon,... she came to prove him with hard questions."
[The men's leader rises as he sees the Queen unveiling and approaching a position that gives her half of the stage.]
MEN'S LEADER: :
The Queen of Sheba came to see King Solomon.
I was King Solomon,
[He bows three times.]
I was King Solomon,
I was King Solomon.
WOMEN'S LEADER::
I was the Queen,
[She bows three times.]
I was the Queen,
I was the Queen.
BOTH LEADERS::
We will be king and queen,
Reigning on mountains green,
[They stand together stretching their hands over the land.]
Happy and free
For ten thousand years.
BOTH LEADERS:
King Solomon he had four hundred oxen.
[They stagger forward as through carrying a yoke together.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the oxen.
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall feel goads no more.
[Here King and Queen pause at the footlights.]
Walk dreadful roads no more,
[They walk backward, throwing off the yoke and rejoicing.]
Free from your loads
For ten thousand years.
BOTH LEADERS:
King Solomon he had four hundred sweethearts.
[The men's leader goes forward, the women's leader dances round him.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the sweethearts.
[Here he pauses at the footlights.]
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall dance round again,
[He walks backward. Both clap their hands to the measure.]
You shall dance round again,
Cymbals shall sound again,
Cymbals shall sound again,
Wildflowers be found
[The Queen appears to gather wildflowers.]
For ten thousand years,
Wildflowers be found
For ten thousand years.
BOTH LEADERS:
And every sweetheart had four hundred swans.
[He continues to command the congregation, the woman to dance. He goes forward to the footlights.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the swans.
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall spread wings again,
[The King walks backward.]
You shall spread wings again,
Fly in soft rings again,
[Here a special dance, by the Queen: swans flying in circles.]
Fly in soft rings again,
Swim by cool springs
For ten thousand years,
Swim by cool springs,
For ten thousand years.
MEN'S LEADER:
King Solomon,
[The refrain "King Solomon" may be intoned by the men's leader whenever it is needed to enable the women's leader to get to her starting point. All the refrains may be likewise used.]
King Solomon.
WOMEN'S LEADER:
The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady,
Bowing most politely:
"What makes the roses bloom
Over the mossy tomb,
[They bow to each other — then give a pantomime indicating a great rose garden.]
Driving away the gloom
Ten thousand years?"
MEN'S LEADER:
King Solomon made answer to the lady,
Bowing most politely:
[They bow and confer. The Queen reserved, but taking cognizance. The King wooing with ornate gestures of respect, and courtly animation.]
"They bloom forever thinking of your beauty,
Your step so queenly and your eyes so lovely.
These keep the roses fair,
Young and without a care,
Making so sweet the air,
Ten thousand years."
BOTH LEADERS:
King Solomon he had four hundred sons.
[The two, with a manner almost a cake walk, go forward.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the sons.
[On this line, King and Queen pause before the footlights.]
BOTH LEADERS:
Crowned by the throngs again,
[Pantomime of crowning the audience.]
You shall make songs again,
[On this line they walk backward, playing great imaginary harps.]
Singing along
For ten thousand years.
BOTH LEADERS:
He gave each son four hundred prancing ponies.
[They go forward in a pony gallop, then stand pawing.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the ponies.
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall eat hay again,
[They nod their heads, starting to walk backward.]
In forests play again,
[A pony dance by both, in circles.]
Rampage and neigh
For ten thousand years.
MEN'S LEADER:
King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,
Bowing most politely:
[They bow to each other, standing so that each one commands half of the stage.]
"What makes the oaktree grow
Hardy in sun and snow,
Never by wind brought low
Ten thousand years?"
WOMEN'S LEADER:
The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,
Bowing most politely:
[They bow to each other, again, with pantomime indicating a forest.]
"It blooms forever thinking of your wisdom,
Your brave heart and the way you rule your kingdom.
These keep the oak secure,
Weaving its leafy lure,
Dreaming by fountains pure
Ten thousand years."
BOTH LEADERS:
The Queen of Sheba had four hundred sailors.
[They go to the footlights with a sailor's lurch and hitch.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the sailors.
[The King and Queen pause.]
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall bring spice and ore
Over the ocean's floor,
[They walk backward with slow long-armed gestures indicating the entire horizon line.]
Shipmates once more,
For ten thousand years.
WOMEN'S LEADER:
The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady,
Bowing most politely:
[They bow to each other, the Queen indicating the depths of the sea.]
"Why is the sea so deep,
What secret does it keep
While tides a-roaring leap
Ten thousand years?"
MEN'S LEADER:
King Solomon made answer to the lady,
Bowing most politely:
[They bow to each other, then confer; the Queen reserved, but taking cognizance, the King wooing with ornate gestures of respect and courtly admiration.]
"My love for you is like the stormy ocean —
Too deep to understand,
Bending to your command,
Bringing your ships to land
Ten thousand years."
King Solomon,
King Solomon.
BOTH LEADERS:
King Solomon he had four hundred chieftains.
[They go to the footlights with the greatest possible strut.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the chieftains.
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall be proud again,
[The leaders stand with arms proudly folded.]
Dazzle the crowd again,
[They walk backward haughtily, laughing on the last lines.]
Laughing aloud
For ten thousand years.
[From here on the whole production to be much more solemn, elevated, religious.]
BOTH LEADERS:
King Solomon he had four hundred shepherds.
[The leaders go forward to the footlights carrying imaginary torches.]
CONGREGATION:
We were the shepherds.
[The man and woman pause at the footlights.]
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall have torches bright,
[They wander over the stage as though looking for lost lambs, with torches held high.]
Watching the folds by night,
Guarding the lambs aright,
Ten thousand years.
MEN'S LEADER:
King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,
Bowing most politely:
[The King kneels, and indicates the entire sky with one long slow gesture.]
"Why are the stars so high,
There in the velvet sky,
Rolling in rivers by,
Ten thousand years?"
WOMEN'S LEADER:
The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,
Bowing most politely:
[The Queen kneels opposite the King, and gives the same gesture as she answers.]
"They're singing of your kingdom to the angels,
They guide your chariot with their lamps and candles,
Therefore they burn so far—
So you can drive your car
Up where the prophets are,
Ten thousand years."
MEN'S LEADER:
King Solomon,
King Solomon.
BOTH LEADERS:
King Solomon he kept the Sabbath holy.
And spoke with tongues in prophet words so mighty
[The two stand, commanding the audience.]
We stamped and whirled and wept and shouted: —
[The man and woman stamp and whirl with great noise and solemnity.]
CONGREGATION RISES AND JOINS THE SONG:
.... "Glory."
We were his people.
BOTH LEADERS:
You shall be wild and gay,
[On these two lines, man and woman stamp and whirl again, gravely, magnificently.]
Green trees shall deck your way,
Sunday be every day,
[On these two lines they kneel, commanding the audience.]
Ten thousand years.
King Solomon,
[Now they rise and bow to each other and the audience, maintaining a certain intention of benediction.]
King Solomon.
poem by Vachel Lindsay

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Palestine is yours and mine…
Mother, Don’t Cry
Mother, dry your tears
Mother, don’t cry for me
Mother, melt your fears
Mother, now my soul is free
Mother, I’m a martyr
Against enemies I was a Fighter
Mother, our souls never live apart
Then Mother, please un-break your Heart
Mother, I hear your beats, I feel your sorrow
Mother, in the Heaven we’ll meet tomorrow
Mother, don’t hesitate
to let my brothers resist to exist,
to survive and to make Jerusalem alive…
Mother, don’t hesitate
to let them struggle for Palestine
to let them fight for the sake of ALLAH
Don’t worry Mother, soon the sun will send the shine
Truly, Palestine is yours and mine…
Palestine is yours and mine…
WithAllMyRespect
{June 12,2010}
poem by Glamorous Enigma

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The Nut-Brown Ale
THE nut-brown ale, the nut-brown ale,
Puts down all drink when it is stale!
The toast, the nutmeg, and the ginger
Will make a sighing man a singer.
Ale gives a buffet in the head,
But ginger under-props the brain;
When ale would strike a strong man dead
Then nutmeg tempers it again.
The nut-brown ale, the nut-brown ale,
Puts down all drink when it is stale!
poem by John Marston

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Forward To The Future
'for my brothers in Palestine'
I look forward to a future where the Adhan will be
called from the empire state building and the armed
guys in pentagon will disarm and walk intelligently
to prayer never killing women and children
So if Israel would kill civilians in palestine, don't rejoice
brother peter, cos they can kill your children too
when their interest is at stake
i look forward to a future where Allah will relive us of the
trial of Israel
I look forward to a future where even if there`s war, fought
by people who hold responsibility for their ideologies, women
and children bereaved of ideologies will be spared
i look forward to a future where wars will no more be fought
and differences will be settled by mere show of strength
i look forward to a future where Linda will no more look
like a dog naked, where peter will know that he has a purpose
on earth to worship Allah and not what the Pentecost preaches
i look forward to a future where the Eiffel tower will have on it
'Allah rules the world'
i look forward to a future where 'Palestine' will be free from occupation.
poem by Omoloja Yusuf

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The Burdens of All
We may sigh o'er the heavy burdens
Of the black, the brown and white;
But if we all clasped hands together
The burdens would be more light.
How to solve life's saddest problems,
Its weariness, want and woe,
Was answered by One who suffered
In Palestine long ago.
He gave from his heart this precept,
To ease the burdens of men,
"As ye would that others do to you
Do ye even so to them."
Life's heavy, wearisome burdens
Will change to a gracious trust
When men shall learn in the light of God
To be merciful and just.
Where war has sharpened his weapons,
And slavery masterful had,
Let white and black and brown unite
To build the kingdom of God.
And never attempt in madness
To build a kingdom or state,
Through greed of gold or lust of power,
On the crumbling stones of hate.
The burdens will always he heavy,
The sunshine fade into night,
Till mercy and justice shall cement
The black, the brown and the white.
And earth shall answer with gladness,
The herald angel's refrain,
When "Peace on earth, good will to men"
Was the burden of their strain.
poem by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

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Brown Baby
Oscar brown jr
Brown baby brown baby
As you grow up I want you to drink from the plenty cup
I want you to stand up tall and proud
And I want you to speak up clear and loud
Brown baby brown baby brown baby
As years go by I want you to go with your head up high
I want you to live by the justice code
And I want you to walk down freedoms road
You little brown baby
So lie away lie away spleeping lie away singing
Lie away sleeping lie away safe in my arms
Till your daddy and you mama protect you
? nd keep you safe from harm
Brown baby
It makes me glad you gonna have things that I never had
When out of mens heart all hate is hurled
Sweetie you gonna live in a better world
Brown baby brown baby brown baby
song performed by by Nina Simone

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Portent
Hanging from the beam,
Slowly swaying (such the law),
Gaunt the shadow on the green,
Shenandoah!
The cut is on the crown
(Lo, John Brown),
And the stabs shall heal no more.
Hidden in the cap
Is the anguish none can draw;
So your future veils its face,
Shenandoah!
But the streaming beard is shown
(Weird John Brown),
The meteor of the war.
poem by Herman Melville

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Brown Skin
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Where are your people from? maybe mississippi or an island
Apparently your skin has been kissed by the sun
You make me want a hersheys kiss, your licorice
Every time I see your lips, it makes me think of honey-coated chocolate
Your kisses are worth more than gold to me
Ill be your almond joy, youll be my sugar daddy
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Every time you come around, something magnetic pulls me and I cant get out
Disoriented, I cant tell my up from down
All I know is that I wanna lay you down
Every time I let you in, abracadabra magic happens as we swim
Higher and higher finally we reach heaven
Come back to earth and then we do it all again
Yeah..
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Skin so brown, lips so round
Baby how can I be down?
Beautiful mahogany, you make me feel like a queen
Tell me whats that thing you do that makes me wanna get next to you, yeah
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and thenoh hey
song performed by by India Arie

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There once was a chap from Kilkerry,
Who's arms were as brown as a berry,
But the hue of his face
As he tied up his lace
Was as red as a bottle of sherry.
(Written Feb/March 1995)
quote by by John Carter Brown

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Sweet Georgia Brown
NO GAL MADE HAS GOT A SHADE
ON SWEET GEORGIA BROWN,
TWO LEFT FEET, OH, SO NEAT,
HAS SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!
THEY ALL SIGH, AND WANT TO DIE,
FOR SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!
I'LL TELL YOU JUST WHY,
YOU KNOW I DON'T LIE, NOT MUCH:
IT'S BEEN SAID SHE KNOCKS 'EM DEAD,
WHEN SHE LANDS IN TOWN!
SINCE SHE CAME, WHY IT'S A SHAME,
HOW SHE COOLS THEM DOWN!
FELLAS SHE CAN'T GET
MUST BE FELLAS SHE AIN'T MET!
GEORGIA CLAIMED HER, GEORGIA NAMED HER,
SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!
NO GAL MADE HAS GOT A SHADE
ON SWEET GEORGIA BROWN,
TWO LEFT FEET, OH, SO NEAT,
HAS SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!
THEY ALL SIGH, AND WANT TO DIE,
FOR SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!
I'LL TELL YOU JUST WHY,
YOU KNOW I DON'T LIE; NOT MUCH:
ALL THOSE GIFTS THOSE COURTERS GIVE,
TO SWEET GEORGIA BROWN,
THEY BUY CLOTHES AT FASHION SHOWS,
WITH ONE DOLLAR DOWN,
OH, BOY! TIP YOUR HAT!
OH, JOY! SHE'S THE CAT!
WHO'S THAT, MISTER? 'TAIN'T A SISTER!
SWEET GEORGIA BROWN!
song performed by by Louis Armstrong

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Four Children
A Ballad of Good Intentions
Four children played by an old oak tree,
Big John and James and little Benjie,
And, threading a chain of daisies fine,
On the leaf-brown sward knelt Geraldine.
Quoth John, 'I'll ride on the gipsies' road,
For narrow space and a small abode
Would break this vagrant heart in me,
And the world is wide and good to see.'
'I'll stay,' said James, 'for my father's sake
From his ageing hand his toil to take,
So he have at last his heart's desire
To sit at ease by the glowing fire.'
'I shall not work,' said little Benjie,
'Nor roam the world that is fair to see;
But here I'll stay in the green beech wood,
By my mother's side and I'll just be good.'
Linking her chain sweet Geraldine said,
'Big John or James I will surely wed;
I soon must choose which shall best please me,
I care not at all for little Benjie.'
The oak grows brown and the oak grows green
The owl and thrush on her branch have been;
For fifty winters a snood of snow
She wears all white till the spring winds blow.
For fifty autumns a robe of red
She wears till the wet west wind has fled,
But ne'er from dawn till the dusk of day
Hath she heard the sound of a child at play.
Big John grows old and all full of care,
He works till night in his oaken chair;
His feet have led him not long nor late,
No more than a league from his father's gate.
Where yew trees wave and their dark leaves shed
Young James lies cold in his four-foot bed,
O soft did his father lay him down,
And over him drew the earth so brown
In a far-off land on a lonely height
Geraldine weeps full many a night,
And prays all day 'neath a gallows tree
Where hangs the corpse of little Benjie.
poem by Dora Sigerson Shorter

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The Ballad Of Go-go Brown
If thats why they call him go-go brown
Hed say (? )
If thats why some people put him down
Hed say it costs his name as go-go brown
All the girls in town
Used to follow him around
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
All the boys would sing
Were gonna make this go-go king
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
Go-go brown is the smartest guy by far
A brand new girlfriend and a brand new car
The girls all thought that he was heaven-sent
one day this boy will be a president
All the church bells ring
When that go-go used to sing
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
Here the people say
hes gonna be someone someday
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
Then one day some bad men came to call
And go-go knew its time to take a fall
Hes been smoking since the age of ten
He took some crack, he sold some smack
And now hes in the pen
All the girls in town
Used to follow him around
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
All the boys would sing
Were gonna make this go-go king
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
He raised them all
Yes he do
He faced the wall
Yes he did
He stood tall
Yes he do
Who did he let down
Just one man thats go-go brown (? )
All the church bells ring
When that go-go used to sing
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
Here the people say
hes gonna be someone someday
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
All the girls in town
Used to follow him around
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
All the boys would sing
Were gonna make that go-go king
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
All the girls in town
Used to follow him around
Go-go brown
Go-go brown
song performed by by Heaven 17

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Jackie Brown
Is this your life, jackie brown?
Poorly educated and forced to live on the poor side of town.
Is this your daughter, jackie brown?
This pretty little girl
In the worn out clothes
That have been hand-me down.
Is this your wife, jackie brown?
With sad blue eyes, walking on eggshells so you dont see her frown.
Is this your family, jackie brown?
Dream of vacationing on a mountain stream
And giving the world more than it gave you.
What ugly truths freedom brings
And it hasnt been very kind to you.
Is this your life, jackie brown?
Is this your meal, jackie brown?
Barely enough, Ive seen people throw away more than this out.
Is this your home, jackie brown?
This three room shack
With no running water
And the bathroom out back.
Is this your grave, jackie brown?
This little piece of limestone that says another desperate man took
Himself out.
Is this your dream, jackie brown?
Going nowhere and nowhere fast
We shame ourselves to watch people like this live.
But who gives a damn about jackie brown?
Just another lazy man who couldnt take what was his.
One helluva life jackie brown.
Forevermore, jackie brown
Amen and amen - jackie brown?
song performed by by John Mellencamp

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Brown Eyed Handsome Man
BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN
Arrested on charges of unemployment,
he was sitting in the witness stand
The judge's wife called up the district attorney
Said you free that brown eyed man
You want your job you better free that brown eyed man
Flying across the desert in a TWA,
I saw a woman walking across the sand
She been a-walkin' thirty miles en route to Bombay.
To get a brown eyed handsome man
Her destination was a brown eyed handsome man
Way back in history three thousand years
Back every since the world began
There's been a whole lot of good women shed a tear
For a brown eyed handsome man
That's what the trouble was brown eyed handsome man
Beautiful daughter couldn't make up her mind
Between a doctor and a lawyer man
Her mother told her daughter go out and find yourself
A brown eyed handsome man
That's what your daddy is a brown eyed handsome man
Milo Venus was a beautiful lass
She had the world in the palm of her hand
But she lost both her arms in a wrestling match
To get brown eyed handsome man
She fought and won herself a brown eyed handsome man
Two, three count with nobody on
He hit a high fly into the stand
Rounding third he was headed for home
It was a brown eyed handsome man
That won the game; it was a brown eyed handsome man
song performed by by Nina Simone

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Child’s Song
WHEN the Child played in Galilee,
He had no wine-clear maple leaves,
No west winds singing of the sea
Over the frosted sheaves;
But with pale myrrh His head was bound
And crowned.
When the Child lived in Nazareth,
He watched the golden anise seed,
With daisies white in the wind's breath,
And hyssop flowering for His need,
While the late crocus from the sod
Flamed for her God.
When the Child dwelt in Palestine,
Over the brooks the willow grew,
Olive and aspen, oak and pine,
Sweet sycamore and yew,
But one dark Tree of all the seven
Stood high as heaven.
poem by Marjorie Lowry Christie Pickthall

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Long John Brown and Little Mary Bell
Little Mary Bell had a Fairy in a Nut
Long John Brown had the Devil in his Gut
Long John Brown lovd Little Mary Bell
And the Fairy drew the Devil into the Nut-shell
Her Fairy skipd out and her Fairy skipd in
He laughd at the Devil saying Love is a Sin
The devil he raged and the Devil he was wroth
And the devil enterd into the Young Mans broth
He was soon in the Gut of the loving Young Swain
For John eat and drank to drive away Loves pain
But all he could do he grew thinner and thinner
Tho he eat and drank as much as ten Men for his dinner
Some said he had a Wolf in his stomach day and night
Some said he had the Devil and they guessd right
The fairy skipd about in his glory Joy and Pride
And he laughd at the Devil till poor John Brown died
Then the Fairy skipd out of the old Nut shell
And woe and alack for Pretty Mary Bell
For the Devil crept in when The Fairy skipd out
And there goes Miss Bell with her fusty old Nut
poem by William Blake from Songs and Ballads (1794)

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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John Brown was tried for treason, murder, and inciting slaves to insurrection.
quote by John Sergeant Wise

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sweet Georgia Brown
Well let me tell you well no chick made
Could be the same
As sweet georgia brown.
Crazy feet that dance so neat
Has sweet georgia brown.
Fella's sigh, and even cry
For sweet georgia brown.
I tell you just why
You know i don't lie.
It's been said
She knocks them dead
In any old town.
Since she came right
It's a shame
How she brings them down.
In liverpool she even dare
To critize the beatles' hair.
With their whole fanclub
Standing there
I mean sweet georgia brown.
I say this group is absolutely marvellous with the piano, don't you
Think so. not too commercial, boys, not too commercial!
When it comes to music
Sweet georgia is known to mind,
Don't buy clothes at fashion shows
But she still looks fine
Snap chicks cry,
They want to die
When georgie does the twist
I never would try
To tell you just why.
Use your imagination
Theres a dj crazy for her
Living in out home town
Since she came it's a shame
She turns him down
Records that she can get
Are records, they ain't sent him yet
Carolina may have dina,
But that don't have georgia brown.
Oh that sweet georgia,
Yeah yeah yeah i mean brown, oh oh oh.
Sweet georgia brown.
song performed by by Beatles

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Oh! Lisa With These Lovely Eyes
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
So please tell my soul to sympathize,
We shall cry forever in overcast skies
Lisa with the dark brown eyes,
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Heartbroken heart spoken, not taken back
To change a mind so is lifes dream
Lisa with the dark brown eyed
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
That blends your butter scotch face insight
Smiles which brings sparkles to my mind
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Many pre thoughts of your strays hypnotize
French, African, English culture dies
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
She dabbles her life in fiction trash
her soul with curious follies
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Loneliness, has come far a sad. sad day
Emptiness in your mind and heart pay
Lisa with the dark brown eyes
Lisa with the dark, dark, brown eyes
You walk the world in beauty forgotten
They speak about you something forbidden
Lisa with the dark, dark, brown eyes
Lisa with the dark, dark, brown eyes
Your body your mind so whole same so
Your gave birth and I wish I could understand, understand
Lisa with the dark dark raven eyes
Lisa with the dark dark brown eyes
Curiosity is so special time flies, my sighs
Persuaded a fool to be wise, so wise how wise
Lisa with the dark dark brown eyes.
poem by Klayne Mario Burton

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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To J. P.
John Pierpont, the eloquent preacher and poet of Boston.
Not as a poor requital of the joy
With which my childhood heard that lay of thine,
Which, like an echo of the song divine
At Bethlehem breathed above the Holy Boy,
Bore to my ear the Airs of Palestine,--
Not to the poet, but the man I bring
In friendship's fearless trust my offering
How much it lacks I feel, and thou wilt see,
Yet well I know that thou Last deemed with me
Life all too earnest, and its time too short
For dreamy ease and Fancy's graceful sport;
And girded for thy constant strife with wrong,
Like Nehemiah fighting while he wrought
The broken walls of Zion, even thy song
Hath a rude martial tone, a blow in every thought!
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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