This is a folk ballad (historical fiction) about a legendary man that appeared before the Continental Congress mysteriously on July 4th, 1776 and persuaded the delegates to sign the Declaration of Independence.
He was called The Professor. Who was this mystery man?
© Rudolph 2011
In Philadelphia
between streets 5th and 6th
Delegates from 13 colonies
met in July of 76
From British rule
they wanted to be free.
But many waivered and worried
about swinging from the gallows or a tree.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Was the Professor’s plea.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
If you yearn to be free.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
We’ve stated our reasons why.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Our words will never die.
Conviction of treason
was a certain cruel death.
Hung until unconscious
and almost out of breath.
Prepared for slaughter
Cut down and revived
Dying in writhing agony
disemboweled while still alive
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Was the Professor’s plea.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
If you yearn to be free.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
We’ve stated our reasons why.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Our words will never die.
Who was this mystery man
who was so tall and pale?
He was quite elderly
but was so strong and hale.
Who was this mystery man
who urged us to be free?
He mesmerized the delegates
speaking so eloquently.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Was the Professor’s plea.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
If you yearn to be free.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
We’ve stated our reasons why.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Our words will never die.
A decision had to be made
in Independence Hall
The course we had to take he said
was written on the wall.
So, 56 delegates prepared
to steadily use their hands
to sign that famous parchment
and liberate our land.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Was the Professor’s plea.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
If you yearn to be free.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
We’ve stated our reasons why.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Our words will never die.
How he entered
no one knows the way,
but his magical oratory
persuaded all that day.
He challenged us all
to take the dare
to create a free America
then he vanished in the air.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Was the Professor’s plea.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
If you yearn to be free.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
We’ve stated our reasons why.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
Our words will never die.
by – Christopher Rudolph