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