John Brown

   "John Brown" is a song by Bob Dylan, written in October 1962 was released under his pseudonym "Blind Boy Grunt" on the Folkways Records compilation album BROADSIDE BALLADS, VOL. 1 (1963). Live performances have been officially released on MTV UNPLUGGED (1995), LIVE AT THE GASLIGHT 1962 (2005), and LIVE 1962–1966 – RARE PERFORMANCES FROM THE COPYRIGHT COLLECTIONS (2018). A demo version was issued on THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 9 – THE WITMARK DEMOS: 1962–1964 (2010).
  It is an anti-war song that draws on traditional tunes and themes, and narrates the tale of a mother who is proud to see her son go off to war. He returns badly injured and reflects on how the enemy looks just like him, before dropping his medals into his mother's hands. The song has received a mixed reception from critics, with some finding performances impactful and others criticizing the callowness of the lyrics. According to his official website, Dylan has performed the song in concert 180 times, most recently in 2012.

   Below: part of the 15 loose pages with chord diagrams and lyrics of the 9 songs included in the single-sided promo LP WARNER BROS 7 ARTS MUSIC INC. XTV 221567. Collection Peter Oudejans.