John Brown's Body


noun

a long narrative poem (1928) by Stephen Vincent Benét, about the U.S. Civil War.

Cultural definitions for john brown's body

“John Brown's Body”

A song of the Civil War that pays tribute to the abolitionist John Brown (see abolitionism). It begins, “John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave.”

notes for “John Brown's Body”

The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was written to the tune of “John Brown's Body.”