When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Album: Songs of the Civil War (1862)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Also known as "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again," this song which dates from the American Civil War was sung by both sides, as was the slightly earlier "Lorena." The lyrics were written by the Irish-born Patrick Gilmore (1829–92) who served with the Union Army. The bandmaster and composer took the melody from "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye," another war-related song, but one that has a somewhat dissimilar message.
  • Gilmore published his song under the pseudonym Louis Lambert; it is better known than its precursor, and has in some respects become a standard; it has certainly been recorded widely and in many variants.

    Among others, Guns N' Roses included part of it in "Civil War", and a few bars were used at the end of "Out In The Fields". >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.