My son was learning about John Brown in school and I played him Charlie’s song. I don’t know if Charlie set out to do it, but he gets the combination of heart, idealism and futility dead on. Brown takes the time to console Henry, in battle. But he says ‘we’ve nearly won’ when clearly they are losing. Did he really think that? Or was it to console Henry? Or could he see the civil war coming?

Not many people write songs like this. Thank you Charlie. And for naming him Henry, the same as my son.