"Johnnie" lyrics - THE CHAD MITCHELL TRIO

THE CHAD MITCHELL TRIO

"Johnnie"

[Spoken:]
I think that many times the songs that we sing as children and
Grow up with all our lives, we often attribute to having originated
Right in this Country, when more often they would originated in many
Far off lands, and such would be the case with the song that we would
Know as "When Johnny comes marching home".
In actuality this tune originated in Ireland with a lyric of an entirely
Different content, and it was known then as "Johnnie, I hardly knew ya"

When Johnnie 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 be there
When Johnnie comes marching home

With drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo, hurroo
With drums and guns and guns and drums
The enemy nearly slew ye
Darling John, it's been so long
Johnnie I hardly knew ye

Tis glad I am to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
Tis glad I am to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
Tis glad I am to see ye home
My darling John, so pale and worn
So low in cheeck and high in bone
Oh Johnnie 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 poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnnie, 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 first you went to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnnie, I hardly knew ye

Ye haven't an arm, and ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, and ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, and ye haven't a leg
Ye're an eyeless, boneless, chickenless egg
And ye'll have to be put with a bowl to beg
Oh Johnnie, I hardly knew ye

Mighty Day On Campus (1961)