# Songs with John/Johnny in Them **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171 "2003-07-22T16:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/41 "2003-07-23T11:39:14Z")
_Handsome Johnny_ - Richie Havens. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/42 "2003-07-23T11:46:19Z")
BTW, the words “Handsome Johnny” appear in every [verse](http://www.mathie.demon.co.uk/rh/lyrics.htm#Handsome): > [@](#): > > Hey, look yonder, tell me what’s that you see > Marching to the fields of Concord? > It looks like Handsome Johnny with a musket in his hand, > Marching to the Concord war, hey marching to the Concord war. “It looks like Handsome Johnny with a flintlock in his hand” “It looks like Handsome Johnny with a carbine in his hand” Etc. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/43 "2003-07-23T13:11:52Z")
A BÖC Fan (named John) checking in: One of those songs you won’t find via a Title Search. **"The Marshall Plan"** - By Blue Öyster Cult Song about a guy who takes his girl to a rock concert and she dumps him for the guitarist in the band. Our title character, Johnny, isn’t stting right with this one. He learns to play guitar and becomes a legend in his time. The song even has a cameo voice over by old Mr. Satin Baseball Jacket himself: Don Kirschner (Paraphrasing here) > [@](#): > > This is Don Kirschner > And tonight on Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert > A new phenomenon in the music world > With 6 Million albums to his credit in 2 short years > My good friends, Here’s Johnny …Enter cliched Buck Dharma guitar solo. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/44 "2003-07-23T13:28:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnBckWLD \* > \*\*…Enter cliched Buck Dharma guitar solo. \*\* Wash your mouth out! Buck Dharma is a genius! (Though the song sucks). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/45 "2003-07-24T03:54:49Z")
**Dire Straits** - _Walk of Life_ “Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies, Baba luba baby what I say…” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/46 "2003-07-24T04:13:21Z")
There’s a song from the 50’s/early 60’s, female singer that sings: _Oh, johnny, oh johnny…(something something something)_ It was the first thing that came to mind other than: _when johnny comes marching home again, hoorah! Hoorah!_ ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/47 "2003-07-24T04:32:25Z")
**Johnny Feelgood** , by Liz Phair _“Johnny feelgood, Johnny right on, Johnny miss you, Johnny light on Johnny makes me feel strangely good about myself…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/48 "2003-07-24T05:41:05Z")
**When the Beatles Hit America** by John Wesley Harding. (Sort of a spoken blues satire riff to it…) \*Due to a miracle marketing strategy beyond the realms of reasonable possibility, it is announced simultaneously on radio, compact disc and TV, that John, Paul, George and Ringo, they’re gonna be reforming as The Beatles in 1993. And things skip into action immediately. George buys the film rights in a flurry of activity; Paul says they’re not gonna play Japan; Ringo cancels his chat show plans; and John, who was never the quiet one, John stays silent, for the time being…\* And there’s also at least one line in **The Red Rose and the Briar** by the same artist. **My Ride’s Here** by Warren Zevon _I was staying at the Marriott With Jesus and John Wayne I was waiting for a chariot They were waiting for a train The sky was full of carrion “I’ll take the mazuma” Said Jesus to Marion “That’s the 3:10 to Yuma My ride’s here…”_ ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/49 "2003-07-24T05:56:41Z")
[Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye](http://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/johnnyihardlyknewye.shtml) is a traditional Irish song. ---
**Author:** ![schplebordnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@schplebordnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schplebordnik)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/50 "2003-07-24T06:07:28Z")
Liz Phair also did “Johnny Sunshine”: \You left me nothing You left me nothing Johnny Sunshine\ ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/51 "2003-07-24T06:34:34Z")
**Johnny Angel** ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/52 "2003-07-24T11:25:48Z")
**Father John** by Lemming. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/53 "2003-07-24T13:16:50Z")
“Oh Johnny Oh!” by Richard X. Heyman (who probably belongs in the “recommend an obscure CD” thread) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/54 "2003-07-24T13:28:44Z")
John Barleycorn - traditional Surabaya Johnny - Brecht/Weill ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/55 "2003-07-24T13:57:27Z")
**Hold On, Slow John** by Firewater. - So hold on, Slow John There’s no getting used To the taste of a gun \* ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/56 "2003-08-02T02:16:27Z")
Subterranean Homesick Blues, by Bob Dylan “Johnny’s in the basement, mixing up the medicine…” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/57 "2003-08-02T03:56:57Z")
I know the theme song for Johnny Bravo probably doesn’t count… but it should! ---
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/58 "2003-08-02T05:02:39Z")
Johnny 99 - Springsteen John Wesley Harding - Dylan Tell Me Momma - Dylan (Hey, John, come and get me some candy goods) Tomstone Blues - Dylan (Well, John the Baptist after torturing a thief) Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues - Dylan ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/59 "2003-08-02T10:44:37Z")
**Intagio** wrote: > [@](#): > > Johnny Angel - Don’t know who sings it, I think it was a Motown Girl Group. That would be Shelly Fabres. Not Motown. Most of my favorites have been covered, but looking at my collection of sea shanties, I find: **Whiskey Johnny** … Whiskey is the life of man Whiskey from an old tin can Whiskey, o, Johnny, o, Rise 'er up from down below Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey, o, Up, and up this yard must go John, rise 'er up from down below… **Heave Away Me Johnny** There’s some that’s bound for New York Town And some that’s bound for France Heave away me Johnny, heave away And there’s some that’s bound for the Bengal Bay To teach them whales a dance Heave away, me Johnny, heave away We’re all bound to go… **Johnny Brown** My Sally girl she’s hard to beat, boys, Weigh-hey, Sally-o, Always pulling at the old main sheet, boys, Heigh-lo, Johnny Brown, stand to your ground… **Johnny Todd** Johnny Todd he took a notion, For to cross the raging sea And he left his true love behind him, Weeping by the Liverpool sea… Let’s see. Some other folk tunes: **Winsome Johnny** I know where I’m going, and I know who’s going with me; I know who I love, and the Lord knows who I’ll marry. I’ll have dresses of silk; and shoes of bright green leather; Combs to buckle my hair, and a ring for every finger. Leather shows are fine, and silken dresses are bonny, But I would trade them all for my handsome, winsome Johnny. Some may say he’s bad, but I say he’s bonny; Fairest of them all is my handsome, winsome, Johnny. **Oh, dear! What can the matter be** Oh, dear! What can the matter be? Oh, dear! What can the matter be? Oh, dear! What can the matter be? Johnny’s so long at the fair… Well, then there’s all the ballads. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171/60 "2003-08-02T11:39:22Z")
The traditional **Frankie and Johnny** - “Frankie and Johnny were lovers, oh and how they could love” Terence Trent D’Arby had his own take, \*\*“T.I.T.S.”/“F&J” \*\* - Frankie and Johnny were lovers alright, a man and a woman toughened by the weight of time." Violent Femme’s **Johnny** - “Oh Johnny, do you miss your mother, do you miss your father, oh and johnny, do you miss me?” Duran Duran’s **First Impression** - “Here comes little Johnny, from the backstreets of the UK.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-john-johnny-in-them/190171.md?page=4)