SONGS ABOUT WAR...... - The Firearms Forum

rooter · 10-31-2006, 05:39 AM

I used to read a lot when I worked nights....Monitoring mechanical equipment, calling service workers out on emergencies----the job position was described as a Stationary Engineer. One of the books I read was titled 'Johnny, we hardly knew Ye'. It was a story about John F. Kennedy and if you like to read that type of book, I would recommend it highly. You recall the story that I wrote about Glenn Sherwood and I meeting JFK and his friend 'Larry' in the waning days of the 50's----on the ferry boat across Naragannest Bay in Rhode Island? It is posted in my story section...... I had no idea until I pulled this up on Google about the songs....Thought sharing those songs during these times of war may be fitting.... one so very mournful while the other is stirring and promising.. Chief

This is the original Irish lament from which "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" was taken. It shows a much more stark and realistic view of the consequences of such a war.

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.

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.

When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer, 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 out darling boy, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies gay
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 heroes three times three, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brownd we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.

Marlin · 10-31-2006, 08:58 AM

Opens one's eyes real well, Chief.

Good post.

Pistolenschutze · 10-31-2006, 09:55 AM

Most interesting, Chief.

JD · 11-03-2006, 01:27 AM

Never knew that before, intersting.

JD

10-31-2006, 05:39 AM	#1
rooter VMBB Senior Chief Of Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Marty Robbins old hometown, Glendale Arizona--a suburb of Phoenix. Contributor Posts: 9,267	SONGS ABOUT WAR...... I used to read a lot when I worked nights....Monitoring mechanical equipment, calling service workers out on emergencies----the job position was described as a Stationary Engineer. One of the books I read was titled 'Johnny, we hardly knew Ye'. It was a story about John F. Kennedy and if you like to read that type of book, I would recommend it highly. You recall the story that I wrote about Glenn Sherwood and I meeting JFK and his friend 'Larry' in the waning days of the 50's----on the ferry boat across Naragannest Bay in Rhode Island? It is posted in my story section...... I had no idea until I pulled this up on Google about the songs....Thought sharing those songs during these times of war may be fitting.... one so very mournful while the other is stirring and promising.. Chief This is the original Irish lament from which "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" was taken. It shows a much more stark and realistic view of the consequences of such a war. 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. 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. When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! Hurrah! We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah! Hurrah! The men will cheer, 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 out darling boy, Hurrah! Hurrah! The village lads and lassies gay 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 heroes three times three, Hurrah! Hurrah! The laurel wreath is ready now To place upon his loyal brownd we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home. __________________ -->

10-31-2006, 08:58 AM	#2
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Re: SONGS ABOUT WAR...... Opens one's eyes real well, Chief. Good post. __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

10-31-2006, 09:55 AM	#3
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: SONGS ABOUT WAR...... Most interesting, Chief. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

11-03-2006, 01:27 AM	#4
JD VMBB Admin Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 4,408	Re: SONGS ABOUT WAR...... Never knew that before, intersting. JD