Henry Young's Body

Met in 1859
I was pushing coal in a Virginia mine
My wife at home
Son was gone
Killed by a shotgun blast

My name is Henry James Young
I was born in 1821
Raised in want
Ten in all
I am of the poor

John Brown stood at the mine's head gate
Preaching that blood will wash out hate
His own son's gone
He stood alone
"We must stop this now"

I signed on for the weekend raid
Laid down my pick and with my pay
I bought a gun
I left my home
I kissed my wife goodbye

Captain John I want to take my life home with me

The sun set on an ammo store
Where we were headed, it was sure
We'd storm the post
We'd snap the bolts
Arms for the oppressed

Captain John I want to take my life home with me

Captain John raised his carbine high
We crested the bluff
We slid down inside
They raised alarm
The soldiers swarmed
Four times the number of us

Captain John I want to take my life home with me

I knelt down to take my aim
When my insides burst
My legs gave way
My unfired gun
Lay on the ground
My blood colored like the coal

Captain John I want to take my life home with me

Captain John knelt over me
To touch my head and speak softly
"Now you be strong
We've nearly won"
And he held my bloody hand in his

Captain John I want to take my life home with me

Tell my wife for me goodbye
I surely do not want to die
But we all must go
And this I know
We'll die before the cause is won

Captain John I want to take my life home with me

Captain John went on alone
He carried with him my new gun
My last sound, it's initial round
A fallen soldier dies with me

Captain John I want to take my life home with me