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'Johnny' Songs

22 Feb 02 - 02:54 PM (#655512)
Subject: 'Johnny' Songs
From: GUEST,gelliott@gwmail.kysu.edu

I am researching traditional and popular songs which refer to any character named "Johnny," looking particularly for "Johnnies" who are trickster figures. This is any character who (a) tricks another, usually someone in authority, to get his way, or (b) is an outlaw lover, Don Juan type, or (c) is a shapeshifter who changes his appearance to get his way, or (d) is often a musician, or (e) any combination of the above.

There are many traditional songs with "Johnnies" of this type (although American ones, or songs that have flouished particularly in America) are of particular interest to me. However, I really need help finding popular songs, especially rock and roll songs, with these kinds of characters (even if they're not named "Johnny," perhaps going by names like "Hambone," "Midnight Rider," "Jumping Jack Flash," etc., etc.

Can anyone help me in this? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary Elliott

22 Feb 02 - 02:59 PM (#655514)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: catspaw49

I don't think it fits any of your categories, but there is Billy Edd's "Little Brown Shack Out Back"...................

Spaw

22 Feb 02 - 03:24 PM (#655529)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: GUEST,gelliott

spaw, Billy Edd? That's new to me. Can you tell me more?

22 Feb 02 - 03:29 PM (#655532)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: greg stephens

Johnny Dhu/the Jolly Beggarman is perfect, and very timely given the dicussion of Daniel Pearl's favourite tune.

22 Feb 02 - 03:55 PM (#655550)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: catspaw49

Gelliot....Just a joke. Billy Edd Wheeler is a southern U.S. born folk/country artist who had a hit with a song named, "Ode to the Little Brown Shack".....The "Shack" in question being an outhouse, often referred to as a "john" or a "johnnie"....The song is in the DT...Click Here

Spaw

22 Feb 02 - 03:59 PM (#655554)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: greg stephens

this thread is like the "famous black folk and blues musicians " currently getting going.there's so many to list i can't raise the energy to start. think i'll go and get a glass of sherry.

22 Feb 02 - 04:17 PM (#655570)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

click here

22 Feb 02 - 04:19 PM (#655571)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

That's not working for some reason. Search "johnnie" in the digital tradtion search box on the main forum page.

22 Feb 02 - 04:19 PM (#655572)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: MMario

pssst! Leej! you missed an endqoute!

22 Feb 02 - 04:22 PM (#655575)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: MMario

DT search for Johnny

22 Feb 02 - 06:37 PM (#655668)
Subject: Lyr Add: OH, JOHNNY! OH, JOHNNY! (Rose/Olman)
From: Tiger

This one certainly fits. Don't think it's in the database.

OH, JOHNNY! OH, JOHNNY! — Billy Murray & American Quartette
Words by Ed. Rose, music by Abe Olman
From the musical "Follow Me"
Copyright 1917 by Forster Music Publishing Inc., Chicago

All the girls are crazy 'bout a certain little lad,
Altho' he's very, very bad,
He could be, oh, so good when he wanted to.
Bad or good he understood 'bout love and other things,
For ev'ry girl in town followed him around,
Just to hold his hand and sing:

    CHORUS
    Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! How you can love!
    Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Heavens above!
    You make my sad heart jump with joy,
    And when you're near
    I just can't sit still a minute, I'm so, Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Please tell me, dear,
    What makes me love you so?
    You're not handsome, it's true,
    But when I look at you, I just,
    Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!

Johnny tried his best to hide from ev'ry girl he knew,
But even this he couldn't do,
For they would follow him most ev'rywhere,
Then his friends got him to spend a week or two at home,
It's worse now than before, 'cause the girl next door,
Hollers thru the telephone:

    CHORUS

    Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Please tell me, dear,
    What makes me love you so?
    When I look in your eyes,
    And you tell me those lies, I just,
    Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!

22 Feb 02 - 11:50 PM (#655843)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: Melani

Try any chantey or sea song. All the sailors who weren't named Jack were named Johnny.

23 Feb 02 - 01:24 AM (#655884)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: Lonesome EJ

Thanks Mmario. This forum is rapidly becoming cluttered with my dropped quote marks, lost brackets, and mis-mated html dingbats. Glad to know somebody's following me around with a dust pan and broom.:>}

23 Feb 02 - 03:04 AM (#655914)
Subject: RE: 'Johnny' Songs
From: GUEST,Sonja

Johnny Angel
Johnny B. Goode
Johnny, Get Angry
John Barleycorn
John Brown's Body
Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her
No, John, No
John "O' Dreams
Sloop John B
Big John
[John] Sutter's Mill
Catfish John
Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
Johnny Lad