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Lyr Req: Johnnie We Hardly Knew Ye

15 Jan 00 - 11:31 PM (#163729)
Subject: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Jeep man

This may be additional lyrics to "When Johnnie comes marching home. Lyrics would be appreciated. Jeepman

16 Jan 00 - 12:10 AM (#163741)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Sorcha

Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye is not more of Johnny comes Marching Home. I don't have a scanner, so I just emailed bbc with these words...don't know when she'll get them posted.

16 Jan 00 - 12:51 AM (#163756)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: _gargoyle

Dear Mr. J-Man

The one in the DT JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YE is NOT the one you are looking for????

If not....you will perhaps need to reveal a little more....than the lead in your two threads.

16 Jan 00 - 12:58 AM (#163759)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: _gargoyle

Just TYPE the bloody words into the box....you don't need a scanner!!!!

What is the problem girl....????

No paper
No ink
No scanner
No keyboard for typing!!!

Nothing but...desolation, drylands and excuses...
.................................................(It must be Wyoming)

16 Jan 00 - 01:00 AM (#163760)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Sorcha

It's late, song's long, and I just found out it is already in here, we are just STOOPID and didn't look hard enough. I'm gonna get a horse. They're easier to run than these Big C things...........duh. Sorry :)

16 Jan 00 - 08:15 AM (#163799)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: bbc

Ha, now I see why I just received a song file. Don't feel bad, Sorcha, but please don't send me files like that again. I just have a glorified 486 & it didn't like it. I take care of birthdays, email addresses, & (preferably small) photos. Garg, don't give the girl a rough time; she's new & learning. We were all there, once.

best to all,

bbc

16 Jan 00 - 10:22 AM (#163821)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Sorcha

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa,Mea Culpa. Will that do or do you need more? Sorry guys :( On second thought, maybe I won't get a horse..then I'd just have MORE pucky to clean up. Sorcha

16 Jan 00 - 10:32 AM (#163824)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: wildlone

Is it me but are some people so narrow minded or living such a futile existance that they feel it necessary to be rude and obnoxious to people new to the Mudcat.
Or is it that they are so perfect that they have never made a mistake.
I advise the next time you feel like making such posts put your head down the toilet,flush it,continue until you feel better.

16 Jan 00 - 10:47 AM (#163826)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Sorcha

He's right, and I didn't take it to be rude. So lay off the garg. My feelings aren't hurt at all.

16 Jan 00 - 11:07 AM (#163834)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: paddymac

Sorcha - don't feel compelled to rise to the Gargoyle's defense. The totality of his posts reveal a complex personality with clear Jekyll & Hyde alter egos, and maybe more. When he's being the good guy, we love him to death. But, when the otherside comes out, we either ignore him or jump all over him. It'a all just an alternative manifestation of our deep and abiding love for the good side. Now, please excuse me while I commune with the real-world porcelain godess.

17 Jan 00 - 08:22 AM (#164212)
Subject: Lyr Add: FIGHTING FOR STRANGERS (Steeleye Span)
From: Ted from Australia

Maybe this related Steeleye Span rendition is what you were looking for, It's worth a listen in any case.

Regards Ted

FIGHTING FOR STRANGERS

recorded by Steeleye Span on "Rocket Cottage" (1976).
Note: This is one of the most intense 19th century anti-war
songs.
It seems to be a combination of pieces of several other songs, the
first two verses are reminiscent of the Irish recruiting songs like
"Twa Recruiting Sergeants" or "Arthur McBride" with a short hint
at the Broken Token theme ("with half a ring")
while the second half of the last verse is snatched as a whole
from "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya".

To the tune of "He Who Would Valiant Be".



cho: What makes you go away, fighting for strangers,
When you could be save at home, free from all dangers?

A recruiting sergeant came my way,
To an inn nearby at the break of day.
He said: "Young Johnny you're a fine young man,
Do you want to march along behind a military band,
With a scarlet coat, a big cocked hat
And a muscet on your shoulder?"
A shilling he took and he kissed the book,
Oh Johnny, what will happen to ya?

The recruiting sergeant marched away,
From the inn nearby at the break of day.
Johnny went too, with half a ring,
He was off to be a soldier, he'd be fighting for the king,
In a far off war, in a far off land,
To face a foreign soldier.
But how will he fare when there's lead in the air,
Oh poor Johnny, what will happen to ya?

The sun shone high on a barren land,
As a thin red line took the military stand.
Sling shot, chain shot, grape shot too,
Swords and bayonets thrusting through,
Poor Johnny fell but the day was won
And the King is grateful to ya.
With your soldier deeds done, we're sending you home,
Oh poor Johnny, what have they done to ya?

Oh, they said he was a hero and not to grieve
Over two wooden legs and an empty sleeve.
They carried him home and they sat him down
With a military pension and a medal from the crown.
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
The enemy nearly slew ya.
You'll have to be put with a bowl to beg,
Oh poor Johnny what have they done to ya?
cho: (2x)

17 Jan 00 - 03:06 PM (#164319)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Malcolm Douglas

The chorus to the above was taken from Our Captain Cried All Hands, which is in the DT, here. (Second half of the first verse.)

Malcolm

17 Jan 00 - 04:53 PM (#164356)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YOU
From: chrislynn

Johnny I hardly knew you

  EM					    D
  While going the road to sweet Athy,  haroo  haroo
  EM					     G	
  While going the road to sweet Athy, haroo haroo
  
      EM                      D           C               B7
  While going the road to sweet Athy, a stick in my hand and a tear in my eye
     EM       D       C     B7    EM             D   EM
  A doleful damsel I heard cry  "Johnny I hardly knew you!"


With drums and guns and guns and drums haroo haroo
With drums and guns and guns and drums haroo haroo
With drums and guns and guns and drums the enemy nearly slew you
My darling dear you look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew you!

Where are the eyes that looked so mild, haro . . . .
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did you skedaddle on me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew you!

Where are the legs with which you run haroo . . . .
When you went to shoulder a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew you!

It grieved my heart to see you so, haroo . . . .
Though from my heart you took leg-bail
Like a cod you're doubled up head and tail
Johnny I hardly knew you !

You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg haroo . . . .
You're an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg
You'll have to be put in a bowl to beg,
Johnny I hardly knew you !

I'm happy for to see you home, haroo . . . .
All from the island of Salloon,
So low in the flesh and high in the bone
Johnny I hardly knew you !

But sad as it is to see you so, haroo . . . .
And to think of you as object of woe,
Your Peggy'll still keep you on as her beau
Johnny I hardly knew you !


Good luck -- chis

17 Jan 00 - 04:55 PM (#164358)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: chrislynn

good chords (bad formatting . . .)

17 Jan 00 - 07:45 PM (#164410)
Subject: Posting chords with lyrics
From: Joe Offer

Well, Chrislynn, I guess I'd have to agree with the "bad formatting" comment, but I admire you for trying. Use preformat commands before <pre> and after </pre> the passage that has the chords - that preserves the spacing of the letters and spaces, and makes it so each letter or space takes up one full space. Also, put line breaks <br> at the end of each line.
-Joe Offer-

18 Jan 00 - 06:54 PM (#164836)
Subject: Chords Add: JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YA
From: Gary T

I'd like to offer the following chord sequence. I got it from "The Folksingers Wordbook", and to my ear it's a better fit to the tune than the one previously listed. 

          Em                 Em              G       G  
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, harroo, haroo
  
          Em                 Em              G       B7  
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, harroo, harroo
  
          Em                 Am                  Em           B7  
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, the enemy nearly slew ya
  
   Em      Am       Em      B7     Em       Am     Em  
My darling dear you look so queer, Johnny I hardly knew ya
20 May 08 - 08:35 PM (#2345670)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: GUEST,guest

refresh

20 May 08 - 09:13 PM (#2345692)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: olddude

Ok I have played the song for years but does anyone know the origins
is it originally Irish or Scottish. How far back does it go
anyone know?
thanks

20 May 08 - 09:36 PM (#2345701)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Big Al Whittle

yeh its about a bloke called Johnny. They hardly knew him.

No use asking me, I cetainly never knew him.

with his guns and drums - the neighbours never liked him. a bit noisy. he came back from the wars - all bits missing.

Its really relevant. as we have people coming back from the war with bits missing.

however as this particular piece of folk art has failed to ignite universal indgnation at the way our leaders lead us into war - perhaps we should knock it on the head.

300 years is a fair sort of trial at communicating this idea. All that is left is your desire to sing it - quite devoid of any desire to communicate the writers thoughts.

20 May 08 - 09:41 PM (#2345707)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: olddude

I knew lots of Johnny's that were friends some didn't return
and other did missing parts for sure or messed up in the head forever. That was 40+ years ago
it continues, and sadly seems will always continue.

21 May 08 - 04:29 AM (#2345848)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Mo the caller

I can't make the Steeleye words posted above fit the tune 'He who would valiant be', except for the chorus.
And Ted says
"FIGHTING FOR STRANGERS

recorded by Steeleye Span on "Rocket Cottage" (1976).
Note: This is one of the most intense 19th century anti-war
songs."
Is he implying that this is an older song, or has he got the centuries mixed?

Yes, I know, he posted it 8 years ago.

21 May 08 - 05:45 AM (#2345879)
Subject: RE: Johnnie we hardly knew ye
From: Malcolm Douglas

It's a mish-mash, set mostly to the 'Johnny' tune (rather intefered with), with snatches of 'Our Captain Cried' inserted. Part of the text is from tradition, much is modern. It tells us nothing about the original song(s), but it's often the only example (bogus though it is) that people have heard, so is often posted to discussions like this.