Johnny, I Hardly Knew You

Annotation

As discussed above, Joan Baez played an active and important role in the 1960s/70s protest and civil rights movement. She was born on Staten Island, New York, on 9 January 1941. Her father was born in Puebla, Mexico, and she has spoken of identifying with the Mexican-American community.1 She released the protest song "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Yeh" (A&M Records # 8268-S), sung to the same tune as the US Civil War song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". Published in London in 1867 and written by Joseph B. Geoghegan, the song was originally an Irish anti-recruitment song, related to the Kandyan Wars in Sri Lanka (1796 and 1818). It saw a revival in the 1960s in the Vietnam-era and has become a popular anti-war, protest song.1Sources1Time: Joan baez 75 discrimination↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

As discussed above, Joan Baez played an active and important role in the 1960s/70s protest and civil rights movement. She was born on Staten Island, New York, on 9 January 1941. Her father was born in Puebla, Mexico, and she has spoken of identifying with the Mexican-American community.1 She released the protest song "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Yeh" (A&M Records # 8268-S), sung to the same tune as the US Civil War song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". Published in London in 1867 and written by Joseph B. Geoghegan, the song was originally an Irish anti-recruitment song, related to the Kandyan Wars in Sri Lanka (1796 and 1818). It saw a revival in the 1960s in the Vietnam-era and has become a popular anti-war, protest song.1 Sources1Time: Joan baez 75 discrimination↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: While on the road to sweet Athy, hurroo... / A stick in the hand, a drop in the eye / A Doleful damsel I did cry / Johnny I hardly knew ya / Where are the eyes that looked so mild... / We had guns and drums and drums and guns... / The enemy never slew ya / Johnny I hardly knew ya / Where are the legs with which you run... / When first you went to carry a gun / Indeed your dancing days are done.... / You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg... / You're a spineless boneless, chickenless egg / You'll have to be out with a bowl out to beg...

About the artist

Born 9 January 1941, Staten Island, New York, USA. Currently Woodside, California, USA

Themes

Vet

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]