Monday, May 25, 2009

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Notes from YouTube;
Noted Bandmaster Patrick Gilmore wrote the lyrics for this tune when his band was attached to the 24th Massachusetts Infantry. The tune is the same as the Irish song "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye" but there is some dispute as to which came first.

"Johnny" did not refer to "Johnny Reb" but most likely Gilmore's future brother-in-law, a Union army officer. The story behind the song is on the Library of Congress website.

Library of Congress Website

The first page of the song (Louis Lambert was a pseudonym of Gilmore's) bears a dedication at the top "to the army and the navy of the Union". This was not a Confederate song.

Image of Sheet Music
mp3s @Amazon.com

When Johnny comes Marching Home by Pete Seeger And Bill MacAdoo

When Johnny comes Marching Home by The United States Military Academy Band

When Johnny comes Marching Home by Dolly Parton

When Johnny comes Marching Home by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

When Johnny comes Marching Home by Glenn Miller And His Orchestra

Videos from YouTube








The original lyrics as written by Gilmore, are:

When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah! Hurrah!

We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!

The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!

To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!

The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!

We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!

The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah, hurrah!

Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah, hurrah!

And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home@Wikipedia

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