Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye
Encyclopedia
"Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" (also known as Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye or Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya) is a popular traditional Irish
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 – present day Sri Lanka
) for the East India Company (in what history knows as the Kandyan Wars though the term was not familiar to the Irish). It has become a definitive anti-war song. The song was recorded and popularized by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem in their eponymous album in 1961.
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a tear in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye scadaddle 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 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 the flesh, so high in the 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 be 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'll never will take my sons again
No they'll never will take my sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.
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?
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
anti-war and anti-recruiting song. It is generally dated to the early 19th century, when Irish troops served the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. The original refers to the soldiers from Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
that fought in "Sulloon" (Ceylon – present day Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) for the East India Company (in what history knows as the Kandyan Wars though the term was not familiar to the Irish). It has become a definitive anti-war song. The song was recorded and popularized by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem in their eponymous album in 1961.
Lyrics
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurrooWhile goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a tear in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ye scadaddle 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 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 the flesh, so high in the 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 be 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'll never will take my sons again
No they'll never will take my sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.
Variations
- 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 MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
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 SpanSteeleye SpanSteeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
recorded an adaptation of the song, called "Fighting for strangers" on their album Rocket CottageRocket CottageRocket Cottage is an album by the electric folk band Steeleye Span.This was the band's 9th album, and the 2nd produced by Mike Batt. The album was poised to cement the band's success, building off their breakthrough into the UK Top 10 with their previous album, All Around My Hat . Unfortunately,...
. 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?
- The song English Civil War from The ClashThe ClashThe Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's album Give 'Em Enough RopeGive 'Em Enough RopeGive 'Em Enough Rope is the second studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records. It was their first album released in the United States, preceding the US version of The Clash...
incorporates melody and lyrics from the original. - The Anthem of the Comandos Colombian ArmyColombian ArmyThe National Army of Colombia is the land military force of the government of Colombia and the largest service of the Colombian Armed Forces...
uses the same melody - The Rugby song I Met a Whore in the ParkI Met a Whore in the Park"I Met a Whore in the Park" is a traditional rugby song that is sung at drink ups after rugby games, or just at gatherings of different rugby teams or players. In traditional rugby songs, one line of the song is sung by an individual person, and then the rest of the people involved in the song...
goes to the tune of the song. - The Dutch song Vannacht by Pater Moeskroen also goes by the tune of this song.
Reusage of the title
- A book by Kenneth O'DonnellKenneth O'DonnellKenneth Patrick O'Donnell , known as Kenny, was a top aide to U.S. President John F. Kennedy and part of the group of Kennedys' close advisors called the "Irish Mafia"...
and David PowersDavid PowersDavid Francis Powers was Special Assistant and assistant Appointments Secretary to President of the United States John F. Kennedy. Powers served as Museum Curator of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum from 1964 until his retirement in May 1994. Powers was a military veteran who had served in...
about the truncated presidency of John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
was titled, Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye. It was published in 1972.
Select recordings
You can help by expanding this section- 1960 – Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
– Rare, Live & ClassicRare, Live & ClassicRare, Live & Classic was a 1993 box set compilation by Joan Baez. Released on Vanguard, where Baez had recorded her most influential work during the first twelve years of her career, the set also included material from her subsequent record labels, A&M, Columbia and Gold Castle Records, as well as... - 1960 – Bud & TravisBud & TravisBud & Travis was an American folk music duo from San Francisco, California, consisting of Bud Dashiell and Travis Edmonson.Bud & Travis began recording together in 1958; Edmonson was related to Colin Edmonson, whom Dashiell had met while serving in the Korean War. Travis Edmonson had previously...
– ...In Concert - 1961 – The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
- 1961 – The Chad Mitchell Trio (blended with "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again")
- 1961 – Maureen O'HaraMaureen O'HaraMaureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
- 1969 – Frida BoccaraFrida BoccaraFrida Boccara was a French singer.Frida Boccara was born in Casablanca, Morocco. She submitted the song "Autrefois" to the French Eurovision Song Contest selection panel in 1964 but she was unsuccessful...
– Un jour, un enfant
- Here the song is called "Johnny jambe de bois" and is sung in French as the twelfth song on thirteen.
- 1986 – EasterhouseEasterhouseEasterhouse is a suburb about east of Glasgow city centre, Scotland. It was partially built on land gained from the county of Lanarkshire as part of a boundary expansion of Glasgow before the Second World War. Building began in the mid-1950s by the then local authority, Glasgow Corporation...
– Contenders – 'Johnny I Hardly Knew You' - 1994 – Vlad Tepes – "wladimir's march" instrumental intro track, a version of this song
- 1993 – Joan BaezJoan BaezJoan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
– Rare, Live & ClassicRare, Live & ClassicRare, Live & Classic was a 1993 box set compilation by Joan Baez. Released on Vanguard, where Baez had recorded her most influential work during the first twelve years of her career, the set also included material from her subsequent record labels, A&M, Columbia and Gold Castle Records, as well as...
- 1986 – Easterhouse
- Folk singer Joan BaezJoan BaezJoan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
often included the song in her concert sets during the early to mid 1970s as a statement against the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and all wars in general.- 1997 – Chad Mitchell TrioChad Mitchell TrioThe Chad Mitchell Trio were a North American vocal group who became known during the 1960s. They performed folk songs, some of which were traditionally passed down and some of their own compositions. Unlike many fellow folk music groups, none of the trio played instruments...
– The Chad Mitchell Trio Collection: Original Kapp Recordings - 2001 – The TossersThe TossersThe Tossers are a six-piece Celtic punk band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in July 1993. They have toured with Murphy's Law, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, Dropkick Murphys, The Reverend Horton Heat, Flogging Molly, Street Dogs, Clutch, Sick of it All & Mastodon. They opened for The Pogues...
– Communication & Conviction: Last Seven YearsCommunication & Conviction: Last Seven YearsCommunication & Conviction: Last Seven Years is a compilation album by The Tossers. It was released in 2001 on Thick Records.- Track listing :# "Young Ned Of The Hill" - 2.33# "Maidrin Rua/Tell Me Ma" - 3.41# "Seven Drunken Nights" - 4.00...
- 1997 – Chad Mitchell Trio
- The TossersThe TossersThe Tossers are a six-piece Celtic punk band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in July 1993. They have toured with Murphy's Law, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, Dropkick Murphys, The Reverend Horton Heat, Flogging Molly, Street Dogs, Clutch, Sick of it All & Mastodon. They opened for The Pogues...
recorded a version of this song in the 90s, and it was later included on the compilation Communication & Conviction: Last Seven YearsCommunication & Conviction: Last Seven YearsCommunication & Conviction: Last Seven Years is a compilation album by The Tossers. It was released in 2001 on Thick Records.- Track listing :# "Young Ned Of The Hill" - 2.33# "Maidrin Rua/Tell Me Ma" - 3.41# "Seven Drunken Nights" - 4.00...
, 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.- 2002 - Isla St ClairIsla St ClairIsla St Clair , is a Scottish singer, actress and former game show co-host.-Early career:Isla St Clair was born in Grangemouth, central Scotland, in 1952. Her family came from North East Scotland and it was here that she spent her early years...
- on her album Amazing Grace - anthems to inspire - 2007 – Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
– The Meanest of TimesThe Meanest of TimesThe Meanest of Times is the sixth album by the Dropkick Murphys. It was released on September 18, 2007 by their new vanity label, Born & Bred Records, a division of Cooking Vinyl Records...
- 2002 - Isla St Clair
- The Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
included a version of this song on their 2007 release, The Meanest of TimesThe Meanest of TimesThe Meanest of Times is the sixth album by the Dropkick Murphys. It was released on September 18, 2007 by their new vanity label, Born & Bred Records, a division of Cooking Vinyl Records...
and was later selected as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero III: Legends of RockGuitar Hero III: Legends of RockGuitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
on March 13, 2008. The song was also featured in an episode of the Sons of AnarchySons of AnarchySons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
TV series. - A 2009 performance appeared on their Live on Lansdowne, Boston MALive on Lansdowne, Boston MALive on Lansdowne, Boston MA is the second live album and third live DVD of celtic punk band, Dropkick Murphys. Recorded at seven shows over the span of six nights of their annual St Patrick's Day weekend shows in Boston, MA. The album has an entirely different tracklist to their previous live...
live album- 2008 – Karan CaseyKaran CaseyKaran Casey is an Irish folk singer, and a former member of the Irish band Solas.-Early years:Casey was born in Ballyduff Lower, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland. Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she...
– Ships in the ForestShips in the ForestShips in the Forest is a studio album by Irish traditional singer Karan Casey, and the first to be released primarily on her own label. The album features much of Casey's live band, as well as her brother-in-law and husband, both members of the band Buille. The album features one song in Gaelic and... - 2008 – Tracy Smith – Taverns And Tall Ships
- 2009 – Janis IanJanis IanJanis Ian is an American songwriter, singer, musician, columnist, and science fiction author. Ian first entered the folk music scene while still a teenager in the mid-sixties; most active musically in that decade and the 1970s, she has continued recording into the 21st century...
– Essential Janis Ian (recorded earlier) - 2009 – Susan McKeownSusan McKeownSusan McKeown is an Irish songwriter, folk singer and producer.-Early years:Susan McKeown was born on February 6, 1967 to John Ryan and Jane Ann McKeown in Terenure, Dublin, Ireland. She was greatly influenced by her mother, an organist and composer who died in 1982...
and Lorin SklambergThe KlezmaticsThe Klezmatics are a Grammy Award-winning American klezmer music group based in New York City, who have achieved fame singing in several languages, most notably mixing older Yiddish tunes with other types of more contemporary music of differing origins...
– Saints & Tzadiks
- 2008 – Karan Casey
- A cover of the song is performed by Faye RingelFaye RingelFaye J. Ringel is a former American professor of Humanities at the United States Coast Guard Academy and an author.She received a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. from Brown University in Comparative Literature with Patterns of the Hero and the Quest...
on her album "Hot Chestnuts". - Foreign Feathers perform a version
- The CranberriesThe CranberriesThe Cranberries are an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, later changed by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. The band currently consists of O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler...
, in "ZombieZombie (song)"Zombie" is a protest song by the Irish band The Cranberries from the 1994 album No Need to Argue. The song, which laments The Troubles in Northern Ireland and in particular the killing of two children in an IRA bombing in Warrington, England, was written by Dolores O'Riordan, singer of the band...
", sing "With their tanks and their bombs, and their bombs, and their guns" – a reference to the chorus of this song.