crs@lanl.ARPA (01/14/85)
****** > Can anyone give me any information about the famous folk song that goes > `When Johnny comes marching home again ...'? I am curious as to who > (if known) wrote the song, when and where it was published (I think it > is an Irish folk song ... my favorite!), and if the words and music > are printed in any books? Thanks very much. > > David The following is a copy of a letter that I sent to David last week. I have since looked up the listing from the program guide. It was aired here in New Mexico (on KNME-TV in Albuquerque) on 26 December at 21:00. I will append the description from the program guide at the end of the article (without permission, of course). ------ Just a few weeks ago I watched a program on public TV called (I think) _Two_Gentlemen_Folk_ which featured an American folk singer and a British opera/folk singer. I'm sorry I don't recall their names at the moment. I may be able to find them if you like. The British singer introduced the song by saying that it was this song (or this and songs like it) that cause him to be a folk singer even though his background is classical (ie opera). You are right, it is an Irish folk song that predates our war between the states where it was converted to the war-glorifying _When_Johnny_Comes_Marching_Home. The original title was _Johnny_I_Hardly_Knew_Ye_. Rather than glorifying war, the original was actually a protest against war. He mentioned the war but I don't recall with any certainty. I think it was one of Britain's colonial wars in the east (perhaps India). The original (I think) words as sung by the British gentleman speak of overhearing an Irish girl mourning (not the right word but best I can think of) that she hardly knew her husband when he went off to war and now here he is, come home without a leg and with various other injuries "...and the enemy nearly slew ye..." A beautiful and haunting song in its original form, so emotional that the singer was literally in tears when he finished. If you get the chance to watch the public TV program, by all means do so. This song was the highlight of an excellent program. If you like, I'll see if I still have the program guide for that month and send more info about the name of the series, the singers, etc. if I can find it. ------ Quote from _Take_Five_ Copyright (I imagine) KNME-TV Albuquerque, NM Two Gentlemen Folk British opera singer, Benjamin Luxon and banjo-playing American folk artist, Bill Crofut join together in a performance of traditional British and American folk music. ------ I really enjoyed it. I hope you get the opportunity to see & hear it. Charlie