Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool

Subject: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: GUEST,Dunc
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:32 PM

I recall a song which went along the lines of:

Old Johnny Bull was a silly old fool
He was drunk both night and day
He swore that the hair on his head was fair
But the ruddy old stuff was grey - was grey
The ruddy old stuff was grey

Anyone out there know the rest of this?
Thanks
Dunc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: GUEST,Dunc
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:35 PM

I guess I should do the typing before drinking the wine!!! Sorry about the spelling.
Dunc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 06:18 PM

No luck; I tried SS and Google. Seems Matt McGinn recorded it........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 06:55 PM

Old Johnny Booker was a sly old bugger,

and a sly old bugger was he...

Or maybe a gay old bugger.

Maybe I'll wake up remembering the rest of that - or someone else will post it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 06:57 PM

There are several with Johnny/John Bull as the protaganist, but none with that title in the DT. There is also "silly old fool, that's a chamber pot where your head ought to be".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:29 AM

It may well have been Matt McGinn I remember (or not as the case may be)singing this song.
I remember the opening line of a verse that went something like "With his umbrella and his...????"
There must be someone out there with an old Matt McGinn record or tape with this on it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 06:29 AM

I thought it was 'Johnny Mugger' who, as we all know, was a gay old bugger, and a gay old bugger was he. (too-ralooray, too-ralooray, too-ralooray i-de-o, playing on the old banjo)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: Deni
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 07:10 AM

PM Hawker if you want Johnny Bugger. Her husband sings it brilliantly. But I think you're talking about another song here!

Cheers D

There's another Johnny song, which goes,

Sing John Ball and tell it to them all,
long live the day that is dawning,
for I'll crow like a cock and I'll caroll like a lark
with the light that is coming in the morning

Tra la la

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johhny Bull was a siily old fool
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 09:29 PM

I suspect this is one of a family of songs variously called JOHNNY BOOKER or JOHNNY BUCCA; also Pigger, Booger, Bugger, Pucker, etc. Click on one of the links and it will lead you to the others.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 11:37 PM

G'day Deni,

Your "John Ball" song is one of Sydney Carter's ... none of which is in the DT as Sydney's current publishers think they can screw more money out of his material if they hide it away. Sydney Carter is sadly affected by Alzheimer's Disease ... I'm sure he would have a far more gracious - and, ultimately, profitable - view of sharing his works and vision!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool
From: GUEST,theballadeer
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 08:31 AM

Yes...the above (first) mentioned song is indeed a Matt McGinn song. It's from Matt McGinn 1966 Transatlantic XTRA 1045  LP. However, I don't have transcribed at the moment. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool
From: akenaton
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 01:31 PM

I have the record described by last post and will send lyrics if reqd
Had loads of good sessions with Matt back in the sixties.Downed too much Vat 69...What a man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool
From: akenaton
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 01:43 PM

The songs all about Brithish Imperialism, and we all know how much Matt loved an Imperialist..I wonder why he never made it in USA???

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD JOHNNY BULL (from Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,rita
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 05:50 PM

He are the words to Old Johnny Bull, taken from the "Matt McGinn" as stated above. Some of the songs from that LP are available on "The Best of Matt McGinn", but that one isn't included. There's an email address for more info, though: [e-mail]

CHORUS: Old Johnny Bull was a silly old fool
He was drunk both night and day
He swore that the hair on his head was fair
But the ruddy old stuff was grey, was grey
The ruddy old stuff was grey

With his umbrella and a big CUSAR(?)
He'd set off overseas
Kick every black till they stabbed him in his back
Then crawled home on his knees

CHORUS

He put up his mitts to his old pal Fritz
Saying "I'll soon stop your larks"
With a mighty pound Fritz fell to the ground
Then arose with a million marks

CHORUS

He tried for a dance from la Belle France
In a great big fancy hall
She cried "disgrace" and she slapped his face
Then she barred him from the hall

CHORUS

He didn't have a home so he went for a loan
To his friends in the USA
Says Uncle Sam as he stuck him in the pram
"To hell now all the way!"

CHORUS

Now to end this tale, his heart did fail
After several false alarms
When they shovelled him in
He did look thin
Though he still had mighty arms

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool
From: akenaton
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 07:31 PM

Couple of corrections to Ritas lyrics...Bothin 1st verse.

With his umbrella an a loud hussah
he set off oer the seas
kicked every black till they started kicking back
then crawled home on his Knees.

Ake..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Johnny Bull Was a Silly Old Fool
From: GUEST,Hugh
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:58 PM

classic anti-imperialist stuff indeed !