> Folk Music > Songs > Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

[ Roud 3137 ; Ballad Index PBB094 ; Bodleian Roud 3137 ; trad.]

Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor with The Galliards sang Johnny I Hardly Knew You in 1962 on their Decca album A Rovin’.

Isla Cameron and Martin Carthy sang Johnny I Hardly Knew You on the 7 December 1963 episode of the ABC Television programme Hullabaloo, and Isla Cameron sang it in 1966 on her eponymous Transatlantic album Isla Cameron.

Nigel Denver sang Johnny I Hardly Knew You in 1964 on his eponymous Decca album Nigel Denver. The sleeve notes commented:

Kelly the Boy From Killane and Johnny I Hardly Knew You: Two extremes in Irish balladry; Kelly, a giant of a man leading the Irish people into battle against the “auld enemy” during the 1798 Rebellion, and Johnny returning from the wars without limbs is met by his girl who ends by saying “You’ll never go to war again”.

Ray and Archie Fisher sang Johnny I Hardly Knew You in a recording made at a folk concert with Edinburgh audiences on the 1964 Waverley album The Hoot’nanny Show Vol. 2. The sleeve notes commented:

Another Irish song, but there is nothing very pleasant about it. A song of protest, an anguished cry against war, the determined—if historically fruitless—resolution by a woman that men will never fight again. “They’re rolling out the guns again, but they never will take our sons again” means what it says on this occasion because Johnny has come back from the war…“you hadn’t an arm, you hadn’t a leg, you’re an eyeless, boneless, chicken-less egg, you’ll have to be put with a bowl to beg.”

John Roberts sang Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye on his 1989 album Songs From the Pubs of Ireland.

Elspeth Cowie sang Guns & Drums in 2000 on her Scotfolk album Naked Voice. She noted:

Otherwise known as Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye, this is found all over the anglophone world and is one of the most potent anti-war songs I know.

Stairheid Gossip sang Johnny I Hardly Knew You in 2002 on their Greentrax album Stirrin’ It Up. They tersely noted:

The more things change…

Freshly Ground sang Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya in 2013 on their WildGoose album The Good Red Earth. They noted:

The origin of this song is the subject of huge debate, so we won’t even go there! The fourth verse in this version “where are those arms…” was made up by Freshly Ground member David Emeney.

Macdara Yeates sang Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye on his 2024 album Traditional Singing From Dublin. He noted:

From the singing of Frank Harte, Vincent Doherty

A tragi-comic classic of the Irish tradition, somehow equal parts callous and empathetic. I am particularly fond of Frank Harte’s take on the second verse, substituting the phrase “with a bowl to beg” for “in a bowl to beg”. See Billy in the Bowl for further reading.

Lyrics

Elspeth Cowie sings Guns & Drums

Chorus (after each verse):
Wi yer guns an’ drums an’ drums an’ guns, hooroo, hooroo,
Wi yer guns an’ drums an’ drums an’ guns, hooroo, hooroo,
Wi yer guns an’ drums an’ drums an’ guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
My darlin’ dear ye look so queer,
Johnny I lhardly knew ye.

Where are yer legs that used tae run, hooroo, hooroo,
Where are yer legs that used tae run, hooroo, hooroo,
Where are yer legs that used tae run,
Afore ye went tae carry a gun
Indeed yer dancin’ days are done,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Where are yer eyes that used tae smile, hooroo, hooroo,
Where are yer eyes that used tae smile, hooroo, hooroo,
Where are yer eyes that used tae smile,
When my heart ye so beguiled
Why did ye run fae me an’ the child,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Ye haven’t an arm, ye haven’t a leg, hooroo, hooroo,
Ye haven’t an arm, ye haven’t a leg, hooroo, hooroo,
Ye haven’t an arm, ye haven’t a leg,
Yer lyin’ there upon yer bed
Ye say ye wish that you were dead,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Their rollin’ out the guns again, hooroo, hooroo,
Their rollin’ out the guns again, hooroo, hooroo,
Their rollin’ out the guns again,
They’ll never tak oor sons again
Naw, they’ll never tak oor sons again,
Johnny I’m swearin’ to ye.

Stairheid Gossip sing Johnny I Hardly Knew You

While going the road to sweet Athy, huroo huroo,
While going the road to sweet Athy, huroo huroo,
While going the road to sweet Athy,
A stick in my hand and a tear in my eye
A doleful damsel I did spy,
Saying Johnny I hardly knew you.

Chorus (after each verse):
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, huroo huroo,
With your guns and drums and drums and guns, huroo huroo,
With your guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew you
My darling dear you look so queer,
Johnny I hardly knew you.

Where are the eyes with which you smiled, huroo huroo,
Where are the eyes with which you smiled, huroo huroo,
Where are the eyes with which you smiled
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Oh why did you leave me and the child,
Johnny I hardly knew you.

Where are the legs with which you’d run, huroo huroo,
Where are the legs with which you’d run, huroo huroo,
Where are the legs with which you’d run
Before you went to carry the gun
Indeed your dancing days are done,
Johnny I hardly knew you.

They’re calling out the guns again, huroo huroo,
They’re calling out the guns again, huroo huroo,
They’re calling out the guns again,
Our daughters and our sons again
They’re calling out the guns again,
Johnny I hardly knew you.