Song based on the infamous 1912 Villisca, Iowa Axe Murders.
Sounds like Neil Young meets Steely Dan with a Little Everly Brothers style harmonies
Classic rock and Folk fans Jeff Brown and Kirt Bowman combine their talents for a unique blend of original work.
Story behind the song
Spent time restoring the Moore House to it's original 1912 condition and experienced many paranormal occurences.
Lyrics
“Ballad Of J.B. Moore” by JT Brown
In 1912, Villisca, Iowa an axe was swung.
Eight of them were murdered in their sleep.
A peaceful Sunday Afternoon, an evening with their friends,
And up those creaky stairs death would creep.
The morning after neighbors saw, the curtains were still drawn.
A deathly quiet filled the morning air.
The grisly scene unveiled before their horror stricken eyes.
They couldn’t bear to stagger up those stairs.
Chorus: Who could have done a shameless thing like that?
Their souls left at the door.
Who could have done a shameless thing like that?
At the house that held the name of J.B. Moore.
The lawmen were bewildered, no motive for the crime.
Twas’ nothing taken but the breath of life.
J. B. had no enemies, a respected businessman.
They found him dead beside his loving wife.
The deputies were quarreling, the dogs were on the trail.
The faceless coward escaped without a trace.
Rumors spread around the town, men were tried and freed.
To test the patience of the human race.
Chorus:
The funeral touched their very souls, the people stunned with grief.
Each coffin on a wagon they did go.
To the cemetery lined with folks, tears rolled down their cheeks.
Fearful of a fiend they didn’t know.
All the guns in town were sold, the people feared the night.
Families slept while someone watched the door.
No one would forget the night that bloody axe did fall.
At the house that held the name of J.B. Moore.
Chorus:
Words & Music by
Jeffrey T. Brown © 2003
