Good Brother John Lyrics - Jim Ed Brown

(Good brother John) 

On the express bus to the Boot Camp John came down the isle 

All I could see in the inky black night was a warm but weary smile 

He said friend could I sit here by you I cussed him as he sat down 

Because everything anybody talk me made me hate this stranger John 

John my brother John my friend I cussed him once and I cussed him again 

John stood by me to the very end good brother John 

Two GI's on an airplane headed for a distant place 

John was honest and friendly till I cussed him and spit in his face 

Well I thought I'd be a dead man before John turned loose of me 

He said you're nothin' but a tomfool whiteman but I swear I'm gonna make you see 

John my brother John my friend he never borrowed more than he could land 

John stood by me to the very end good brother John 

Two months later in the battle in the place that I couldn't even name 

John laid beside me with a rifle and I hated him just the same 

Then the earth flew up beneath me in a second my eyes were gone 

Then a hand fell on my shoulder and a voice said it's me John 

(Good brother John good brother John) 

I said get away boy who needs you he said frind you're comin' with me 

Now that somebody's made you blind maybe you can learn to see 

Then he picked me up on his shoulders and lifted me off of the ground 

But when he stood up straight as a pine tree somebody shot him down 

John my brother John my friend gave up his soul to the jumble wind 

John stood by me to the very end good brother John 

Now I make my way in the darkness but one thing I clearly see 

God's good world is full of fine men and they don't all look like me 

That lesson cost John his poor life while I can't stumbling back 

Lord if I'd've been blind from the very first I'd never known John was black 

John my brother John my friend I cussed him once and I cussed him again 

John stood by me to the very end good brother John 

John my brother John my friend he never borrowed more than he could land 

John stood by me to the very end good brother John 

Good brother John good brother John good brother John