Owl Scarey
Bury Me When I’m Free (The Ballad of Gabriel and Nancy Prosser)

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Can’t nobody claim me, I’m as human as can be,

You can bury me when I’m free

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All you snakes there in the trees, you can come and find me,

I said bury me when I’m free

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In the year 1800

Gabriel and Nancy Prosser planned a great slave rebellion.

Recruited hundreds of people across Virginia

Poor whites, Natives, and captive Black folks alike.

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Plan was, hundreds would march on Richmond,

Steal four thousand guns, and arrest the governor.

It was gonna be such a huge revolt, the biggest North America had ever known.

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But two double crossers betrayed their own.

And just like that, the whole thing was blown.

A racist murderin militia was lying in wait.

There was nothin our brave Gabriel and Nancy could have done.

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Our dear Gabriel and 25 of his crew were hanged by that vicious mob

and made an example of.

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And from the gallows, the wind itself sang this solemn song:

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Can’t nobody claim me,

I’m as human as can be,

You can bury me when I’m free

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All you snakes there in the trees, you can come and find me,

I said bury me when I’m free

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Don’t nobody own me, I’m a man plain as can be,

You can bury me when I’m free

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All you snitches mark my words, you gonna get what you deserve

I said bury me when I’m free