Johnny Horton: The Battle of New Orleans

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[Fai Mao]

Battle of New Orleans

[Fai Mao]

From the master of Campy country songs

[sparklite2]

He had so many great songs.

I’m ready if you’re willing
Whispering pines
Johnny Reb
North to Alaska

and on and on and on...

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

My kid loves that song.

[yarddog]

“Sink The Bismark” was a big one too.

[umgud]

Now that is really old. A goody too.

[Fiji Hill]

Here's the British version

[SamAdams76]

Since it is the season, Johnny Horton also sang a classic Christmas song.

[Fiji Hill]

"We didn't sink the Bismarck, no matter what they say,
For when we saw the German ship, we sailed the other way."

Sink the Bismarck!--Homer & Jethro (1960)

[Fiji Hill]

This one is highly politically incorrect these days.

Johnny Reb--Johnny Horton (1959)

[Fiji Hill]

One of his earliest hits

Honky Tonk Man (1956)

[Yo-Yo]

Homer and Jethro Battle of Kookamunga

[cva66snipe]

“When it’s spring time in Alaska it’s 40 below”. Great singer who died way too young. IIRC his wife was married to Hanks Sr at one time.

[Karl Spooner]

Better slow down, Johnny, there is a bridge just ahead...

[tumblindice]

At the wheel sit a big man, he weighed about two-ten
He stuck out his hand and said with a grin
“Big Joe’s the name”, I told him mine
And he said: “The name of my rig is Phantom 309.”

[EternalVigilance]

Love that song. A real piece of Americana.

[Peter Libra]

Yes, the song about the British victory over the mighty German battleship went down well in England. I am able to retain a sense of humour at the song about the British defeat at New Orleans. The awful losses of the British compared with the defenders of New Orleans, could be the worst in the whole war.

In actual fact Sir Edward Pakenham who was the British commander was wounded once. He demanded to lead his men again and was finally killed. The British withdrew. I understand that Johnny Horton then composed and sang the song about the defeat of the Bismarck. This to to make up for some inaccuracies historically that is.

Ironically the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium was already signed in December 1814. New Orleans battle was in 1815. A little bit of humour here. The Americans say they won the war of 1812-1814. The Canadians say they won the war of 1812-1814. The British say it was a draw.

[Rockpile]

I believe the New Orleans song was originally a poem written by a school teacher in the late 1940s. One of my Kentucky militia uncles and one of my wife’s G-g-g grandfathers were combatants there.

[Peter Libra]

Thanks for the information I am able to take the lyrics in good part. I visited the historic national park at Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The battle was in 1781, victory for America. A number of Kentucky militia were involved in that battle too. A British army drum is on display at the museum in Frankfort, Kentucky.

I hope your ancestors survived the Battle of New Orleans, I know the actual casualties of the American defenders were minimal. The British lost over 2000 men killed, and taken prisoner.

[Rockpile]

Yep they went home.

5g grandfather Rockpile and two other grandfathers were Revolution vets and got land warrant farms in Kentucky. Had another relative that was a Captain in the French & Indian War and then a Lt. Colonel in the Revolution.

Of course, that many generations back we have lots of relatives.

[Rockpile]

Speaking of the Bismarck, just last night I was perusing a website of Royal Navy losses in WW2. Damn they lost a lot of vessels and crew especially from 1940-42.

I reside near 500 miles fron the sea in a semi-desert area but have always found ships and such fascinating.