G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GDoes (320003@1)anyone know the name Gabriel Prosser? G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GMy (320003@1)conscience says he's the one that history missed. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GA (320003@1)blacksmith by trade up at Brookfield Plantation, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GA (320003@1)Henrico County slave born of owner Thomas. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GIf (320003@1)you listen closely you'll hear the words perfect, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GThe (320003@1)Caribbean uprising caught fire in this land. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GUp (320003@1)and down the James River, Pamunky and Appomattox, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GTobacco (320003@1)soil gone bad deferred a movement for the blacks. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GNine (320003@1)years before, down in Santo Domingo, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GSlaves (320003@1)refused to submit and took the right of all men. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GVirginia (320003@1)whites got nervous and hired more militias, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) As blacks inspired, plotted and passed on their plans. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) G (320003@1) Mister Prosser's Gabriel was smart as he was strong, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GA (320003@1)head of keloid scars and a mind of knowing right and wrong. G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GVoted (320003@1)general at twenty-four in the year of eighteen-hundred, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) Haunted by the hymns and wailing of his fellow slaves. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GNow (320003@1)does anyone know the name Gabriel Prosser? G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GMy (320003@1)conscience says he's the one that history missed. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GA (320003@1)blacksmith by trade up at Brookfield Plantation, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GA (320003@1)Henrico County slave born of owner Thomas. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GIt (320003@1)was on an August night just North of Richmond, Virginia, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1)Gabriel's men gathered as their owners they slept. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GSome (320003@1)would burn the Capital to distract residents and masters, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) While others took the city and freed the convicts. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) G (320003@1) Well the whites they knew nothing, never seen what could hit 'em, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GNothing (320003@1)like this could happen to their carefree black men. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) G (320003@1)But think about freedom, now think about slavery. G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GBlacks (320003@1)armed themselves with muskets and homemade bayonets. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GWith (320003@1)a white flag on the Capital, all blacks they would rise. G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1)All whites spared, would lose but an arm. G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GYou're (320003@1)a coward if you own men for profit and greed, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GYou're (320003@1)the coward of all and for all you must bleed. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GNow (320003@1)does anyone know the name Gabriel Prosser? G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GMy (320003@1)conscience says he's the one that history missed. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GA (320003@1)blacksmith by trade up at Brookfield Plantation, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GA (320003@1)Henrico County slave born of owner Thomas. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GPharaoh (320003@1)and Tom ratted out Gabriel Prosser, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1)Their owner was Mosby, and neighbor of him. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GThey (320003@1)say the sky seemed seized with rain and lightning, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) On the night of August thirtieth one could see nor stand. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GThe (320003@1)militias' let loose to hunt Gabriel Prosser, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GWho (320003@1)took to the swamps as they imprisoned his men. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GFlagged (320003@1)a boat whose captain was a Methodist preacher, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1)But a traitor slave turned him in in the end. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GThey (320003@1)hung Gabriel down at Broad and 15th Street, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GLord (320003@1)he would not give a word up on his men. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GBut (320003@1)he took that noose and he took it with honor, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) He's buried beneath a lot of parked cars, now, and pavement. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) G (320003@1) There's no monument, there's no stone here to see him, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GJust (320003@1)black asphalt planked by high-rise hospital chains. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) G (320003@1)If I had it my way we'd see memorials climbin', G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GTo (320003@1)a true and honest hero, Prosser's Gabriel. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GNow (320003@1)does anyone know the name Gabriel Prosser? G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GMy (320003@1)conscience says he's the one that history missed. G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) GA (320003@1)blacksmith by trade up at Brookfield Plantation, G (320003@1) D (xx0232@1) GA (320003@1)Henrico County slave born of owner Thomas. For the professionally filmed live version of this song, follow this link: http://vimeo.com/3770978
