When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Annotation

Richard Barbary recorded the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (Spring Records # SK-701) - "adapted by Harold Thomas", according to the label - this is the famous title of a well-known song from the American Civil War, narrated from the perspective of the family and friends of those fighting in war. In this case, the narrator is a veteran, who served with "Johnny", and he reassures "all you mothers" and "young ladies too" that Johnny would be "coming home soon...wearing a medal for bravery".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: When Johnny comes marching home again... / The boys will shout, I know you young girl will turn out / All you mothers who have a Johnny over there / Some of the young ladies too / I saw your Johnny the other day / And he said that he'd be coming home too... / He'll be wearing a medal for bravery / He'll wear a smile for the whole world to see / Would you believe Johnny and me were the best of friends / We shared everything together, he's on his way... / Put those flags in the street

Notes

Spring Records SK701 (103,683), green label marked "Disc Jockey Record" and "Not for Sale"; title printed "When Johnny Comes Marchng Home" (Adapted by Harold Thomas), 2:49, Gaucho Music BMI; Richard Barbary; "Prod. by Harold Thomas for Guardian Prod."; "Distributed by MGM Records – a Division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc." Made in U.S.A. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Richard Barbary was a soul singer who recorded for A&M: his output includes "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (1967) and "Get Right" (1967), and the 1968 sessions for his sole album "Soul Machine" (A&M SP-3010), produced by Artie Butler with arrangers Horace Ott and Harold Thomas, recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. [Source: jazzdisco.org; Discogs]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Patriotic

In collections

Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]