Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier

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"Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" is an Irish folk song. The lyrics lament the sacrifices that men and women make in going off to war. Men would help by going off to war and women would help by sacrificing men and selling goods to buy military supplies. [1] This folk song was popular throughout the American Revolutionary War. Although its meaning is known, its history is not. Peter, Paul, and Mary used the first and third verses of the song in the arranged song "Gone the Rainbow" from their second album Moving (1963).

Contents

Origins

The tune and lyrics are very similar to the 17th century Irish tune "Siúil A Rún" on which the song is based. [2] [3]

Other versions

The song is heard several times in Ken Burns's 1989 documentary film The Civil War . It is performed by pianist Jacqueline Schwab and recorder player Jesse Carr.

The tune is also sung by actor John Tams' character Hagman in the 1995 TV movie Sharpe's Battle.

Notes

  1. "Songs of the Revolution". www.ushistory.org. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. "Chivalry II". Archived from the original on 2012-02-15.
  3. Lesley Nelson. "Johnny's Gone For a Soldier (Version 1)".