The Séance At Harpers Ferry

Well they hung John Brown in 1859

After his revolt did not go fine.

Trying to free the slaves was a noble cause,

Like putting one's faith in the Wizard of Oz.

And I know they've got John Brown in the ground,

Yet I know his story's not fully text-book bound.

And I know his body's a molderin' away,

And I know his rifles have long turned to clay.

But I figure it's time to bring him some respect,

After all his spirit must be quite abject

After being lynched for humanitarian deeds,

Giving Brown a hand is exactly what he needs.

So I'm here in West Virginia with my Oujia Board,

To bring back faith in a soldier long ignored.

It's possible you'd think my intentions are scary,

With this séance that I'm having at Harpers Ferry.

CHORUS

'Cause now I'm channeling John Brown's ghost.

Because John Brown was an abolitionist

He did his thing at Harpers Ferry, though he missed

The opportunity to lead a slave revolt

Because the West Virginian army made him holt.

He got caught by some racists who weren't down

With his liberal liberation, much too profound.

He was saving the souls of a suppressed race,

Society cut him down, shoved their morals in face.

They said John Brown, John Brown

Just surrender now.

John Brown, John Brown,

We just don't know how

You could ever think you'd get away with this.

His public execution was their ultimate diss.

REPEAT CHORUS

So I'm here at Harpers Ferry, waiting for a sign

To communicate with John Brown, through his mind.

And I'm focusing on his very brave deeds

Occasional respect is what the dead need.

Then all of a sudden, he appears to me

Like I'm Macbeth, and he's the witches three.

He looks into my eyes, like they're two jars

And says, "Hello, you must be Lars."

And I'm quite surprise to see Brown today,

Levitating like Slimer, and pale as clay.

Yet he looks tired, and he looks warn,

The expression in his eyes is somewhat forlorn.

I ask him for advice on racial harmony

He tells me to continue fighting bigotry.

He says we can look forward to a new society,

And that he digs the song I did with B.