“Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya” is the Peace Song of the Day for Sunday, November 20th. It is an old Irish tune, that is very anti-war. You can find the lyrics to this song in the Rise Up Singing songbook, on page 161.

Ironically, an American composer used the Irish song as the basis for “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”, which became a Civil War tune, to long for and welcome back soldiers. The words to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again” are not pointedly political. Though, it has been used as a patriotic tune, and a tribute to veterans. So, the two songs are very different. And, the boldest, most antiwar version came first.

Video: “Johnny I Hardly Knew You” sung by Malachy McCourt at a 2003 rally:

* * *
Lyrics:

Johnny I Hardly Knew You
(an Irish, antiwar song from about 1820)
* *

[Chorus:]
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 never slew ya
O my darling dear you looked so queer
and Johnny I hardly knew ya
*

When on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
When on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
When on the road to sweet Athy
A stick in the hand, A drop in the eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Johnny I hardly knew ya
*

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 ya run from me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew ya
*

Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
When first you went to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew ya
*

[Chorus]
*

You hadn’t an arm, you hadn’t a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You hadn’t an arm, you hadn’t a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You hadn’t an arm, you hadn’t a leg
You’re a spineless, boneless, chickenless egg
You’ll Have to be put with the bowl to beg
Johnny I hardly knew ya
*

[Chorus]
*

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
Hurroo Hurroo
But they’ll never take our sons again
No they’ll never take our sons again
Yes, Johnny, I’m swearing to you
*

[Chorus]
*

Note: For the last verse,
Malachy McCourt sang an
alternate version like this:
*

They’ll never take our boys again
Hurroo Hurroo
They’ll never take our boys again
Hurroo Hurroo
They’ll never take our boys again
to turn them into fighting men
They’ll never take our boys again
Johnny, I swear it to you!

Some background notes:

from Wikipedia:
A comment and comparison of “Johnny I Hardly Knew You” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

The Irish antiwar song “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” share the same melodic material. Based on internal textual references, “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” apparently dates from the early 1820s, while “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” was first published in 1863. It was sung by both sides of the Civil War.[1] It was used as a motivation song that told the soldiers what happens when the war is over.

A brief mention at CivilWar.org notes that”When Johnny Comes Marching Home” has origins in Irish songs.