john brown's body
Isakov Gregory Alan Lyrics
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John brown's body was never found
But the locals see him walkin' round
There's a 'for sale' sign on the old farm roads
There's a silo empty and done for
The place just ain't the same no more
There's snow up in the way
And those clouds still full of rain
There's work in town or so they say
Just blessed to fill our hands today
God knows if it will ever pay
And we fill our hands with wood and steel
And grace is a woman we all long to feel
You know someday we will...you know someday we will
There's always the creaks and the strangest sounds
John brown's body's up and walkin' round
Countin' all the riches that he's found
And he throws it all in that wishing well
Made it home in the morning hail there's snow up in the way
And those clouds still full a rain
The lyrics of Gregory Alan Isakov's song "John Brown's Body" paint a grim picture of the harsh realities of life in a small town. The eerie creaks and strange sounds serve as a reminder of the presence of John Brown's ghost, who locals believe still roams the area, even though his body was never found. The abandoned farm roads, empty silo, and lack of vibrancy in the town further add to the feeling of desolation and hopelessness.
Despite the lack of jobs and the uncertainty of the future, the people in the town still work hard with a sense of determination to make ends meet. The lyrics suggest that even though the work may not be fulfilling, it is still a blessing to fill their hands with wood and steel. This sense of resilience is further emphasized by the line, "grace is a woman we all long to feel", hinting at the people's yearning for a better life and the hope that their hard work will one day pay off.
The final stanza of the song sees John Brown's ghost as a symbol of greed, counting all the riches he's found and throwing it into the wishing well. The snow and the clouds full of rain once again signify the bleakness of the situation. However, despite the overall despondency conveyed in the lyrics, the repetition of "you know someday we will" brings a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
There's always the creaks and the strangest sounds
Unusual noises can always be heard, making the environment eerie and unsettling.
John brown's body was never found
The whereabouts of John Brown's remains are unknown.
But the locals see him walkin' round
Despite his body being missing, people claim to see John Brown roaming around.
There's a 'for sale' sign on the old farm roads
The roads leading to the abandoned farm are marked for sale.
There's a silo empty and done for
The once useful silo is now empty and useless.
The place just ain't the same no more
The farm has lost its charm and appeal over time.
Now its shinin' all them different ways, crimson blues and yellow shades
The surroundings are now illuminated by various colors, including red and yellow.
There's snow up in the way
The path ahead is blocked with snow.
And those clouds still full of rain
The clouds overhead are still heavy with rain.
There's work in town or so they say
There is talk of job opportunities in the nearby town.
Just blessed to fill our hands today
We are grateful for any work we can find to fill our hands with.
God knows if it will ever pay
It is uncertain whether the work will provide any substantial income.
And we fill our hands with wood and steel
We spend our time doing manual labour as we work with wood and steel.
And grace is a woman we all long to feel
We all desire to experience grace, a quality revered like a woman.
You know someday we will...you know someday we will
We are optimistic that one day we will experience this grace.
John brown's body's up and walkin' round
Inexplicably, John Brown's body is still on the move.
Countin' all the riches that he's found
John Brown seems to be taking inventory of all his newfound treasures.
And he throws it all in that wishing well
He discards everything he has gathered in a wishing well.
Made it home in the morning hail there's snow up in the way
Despite difficult weather conditions, John Brown managed to return home.
And those clouds still full a rain
The clouds continue to release rain, albeit heavily.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind