I Can't See You No More (When Johnny Comes Marching Home)

Annotation

Texas soul singer Joe Tex released another war-related track during the Vietnam era, called "(When Johnny Comes Marching Home) I Can't See You No More" (Dial # 4095) - following on from 1966's "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It". The title of the song was a play on the title of the well-known American Civil War song, while the theme fitted into the "Jody" category. The term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home (for work or whatever). "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been introduced into the army by African-Americans during the Second World War, used in military cadences (marches), such as "ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone" - shouted out by a military officer, and repeated by the group of marching soldiers in unison. This type of marching later got the nickname of "jodies" or "jody calls". (1) This one is narrated from the perspective of the "Jody", a man having an affair with a woman who "is waiting on a man; right now he is in the army". Of course, when he, "Johnny"…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

American soul singer, born 8 August 1935 in Rogers, Texas ('I Believe I'm Gonna Make It'); died 13 August 1982 in Navasota, Texas. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Home Front Perspective · Jody · Civil War

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs · Jody Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs