Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

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"Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" (AKA Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye, and Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya) is a popular Irish traditional anti-war and anti-recruiting song. It is generally dated to the early 19th century, when Irish troops served the British East India Company. The original refers to the soldiers from Athy, County Kildare that fought in "Sulloon" (Ceylon - now Sri Lanka) for the East India Company. It has become a definitive anti-war song.[1] [2]

Patrick Gilmore, author of American popular song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (1863), said in 1883 that "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" was the basis for "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."[citation needed] At least one author has disputed this statement;[citation needed] see "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" for further discussion.

Contents

[edit] Variations

  • "Island of Sulloon" is a reference to Ceylon, modern day Sri-Lanka
  • The repeating chorus line "With your drums and guns and drums and guns" is sometimes sung as "With your drums and guns and guns and drums," or "We had guns and drums and drums and guns," as in the Dropkick Murphys version.
  • "Why did ye run from me and the child?" sometimes replaces "Why did ye skedaddle from me and the child?"
  • "Where are the legs with which you run?" sometimes replaces "Where are the legs that used to run?"
  • Steeleye Span recorded an adaptation of the song, called "Fighting for strangers" on their album Rocket Cottage. Their version is substantially different, but bears the refrain "Johnny, what've they done to you" or "Johnny what'll happen to you". The other similarity is in the last verse

You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg
The enemy nearly slew you
You'll have to go out on the streets to beg
Oh, poor Johnny, what've they done to you?


Lyrics (variation)

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
 While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Chorus:
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
 With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
 Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
 Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
 I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
 Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
 They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.

[edit] Reusage of the title

[edit] Select Recordings

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Here the song is called "Johnny jambe de bois" and is sung in French as the twelfth song on thirteen. [3]
Folk singer Joan Baez often included the song in her concert sets during the early to mid 1970's as a statement against the Vietnam War and all wars in general.
The Tossers recorded a version of this song in the 90s, and it was later included on the compilation Communication & Conviction: Last Seven Years, which includes everything they have done before 2000. They recorded another live version on March 17, 2008. It was included on their live album Gloatin' and Showboatin': Live on St. Patrick's Day.
The Dropkick Murphys included a version of this song on their 2007 release, The Meanest of Times and was later selected as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on March 13, 2008. The song was also featured in an episode of the Sons of Anarchy TV series.
  • A cover of the song is performed by Faye Ringel on her album "Hot Chestnuts".
  • Foreign Feathers perform a version
  • The Cranberries, in "Zombie", sing "With their tanks and their bombs, and their bombs, and their guns" - a reference to the chorus of this song.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Johnny I hardly knew ya
  2. ^ JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE - Irish American Song Lyrics, MP3s, Chords, Sheet Music
  3. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Frida-Boccara-Un-Jour-Un-Enfant/master/176320

[edit] See also

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