He never was. The writer of the Battle of New Orleans, Jimmy Driftwood, was a high school history teacher under his real name, James Morris. This song was written by Horton's manager.
Interesting Johnny Horton predicted his own death. In 1959 they told his close friends that he was going to die a severe death and soon. In 1960 on his way home to Shreveport from Austin Texas a drunk driver hit them head-on. He had figured out that story based folk song was the right way to go in his career. I like the Bismarck and Johnny Reb
Looking at the photo of the Bismark, I think the lyrics should have been "Those shells as big as steers; those guns as big as trees." I mean look at those long guns folded across the front of the ship -- trees, not steers.
He passed away in a car accident a few months before the movie and song were released and never got to see how popular they became. North to Alaska and McClintock are some of my favorite western/comedies.
@jawo8754 John Wayne didn't care if he made a fool of himself or if someone else did. He also didn't mind giving younger actors the "stage" so to speak.
Since you enjoyed this one, you'll enjoy "Battle of New Orleans". Johnny was a very good story teller and had a beautiful voice too. Loved watching you enjoy this song❤❤
"North To Alaska" and "Jim Bridger" are two other of his great historical songs. (And if you never heard it, check out the Blues Brothers cover of this.) ruclips.net/video/7CPXnur0vMs/видео.html
Johnny Horton surely made any patriotic Brit proud in 1960. Even as an American, I am so proud of the British Navy when I hear this Johnny Horton ballad.
Don't forget though, your lot were so busy in so many areas all over the world, the Allies had to support where they could. In the end, the job got done and we all have been left with the scars to show. Lest We Forget!
I'm intrigued by the first line in this song. "In May of 1941, the war had just begun". When I was in school we were taught that WW II began with the NAZI invasion of Poland, in 1939.
@@Doug_BC You are correct but USA didn't enter the conflict until after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, so a small unintentional technicality I imagine.😁
The destruction of the German Super ship was a call of national pride for the British, it was seen as being a mission of utmost importance as both symbolic but also to clear the sea of the Bismarck
He was never underrated in His Day I do assure you. We treasured these songs and many many more like them. The wonderful ones like these had a Heart. And courage to fight against Tyranny.
@@richdiddens4059 I seen the movie,when way too young. The scene where the wall of dpikes hit the soldier, buried head in back seat of car and did not watch for a while.
As richdiddens4059 said The Ballad of the Green Berets was done by staff Sergeant Barry Saddler. That song came out five or six years after Johnny died. Johnny's son, Johnny Horton Jr, did do a cover of The Ballad of the Green Berets.
Some of the lyrics from Johnny Horton’s Battle of New Orleans. “So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round. We filled his head with cannon balls and powdered his behind. And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind. “ Lol. My favorite but I also love North to Alaska
Johnny Horton was one of the great storytellers of my childhood. The Bismarch was released in 1960 and was based on actual facts. It was his 2nd highest hit after "The Battle of New Orleans". The beat of the military drums 🥁 is setting up the marching beat which is addictive. Great song. Great reaction Craig. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I was 12 when this song came out. The war wasnt that far in the past, and everyone loved this song. It was a great post war song of victory and made everyone feel good.
I've always enjoyed this Country singer's songs. Johnny Horton has always been good at singing history and he really puts feeling into each one. His voice is unique. He died way too soon in a car accident.
Can't understand why people never mention some of his absolutely superb songs: The Golden Rocket, Got the Bull By the Horns, Out in New Mexico, Take Me Like I Am, Counterfeit Love, First Train Headin' South, I'm Ready If You're Willing, I'm a Honky Tonk Man, Ole Slewfoot. Everyone of these songs is pure fire. Johnny's voice was dynamite!.
The 1960's might have been the prefect time for this song. The veterans that won the battle were still quite young, country music was quite popular, and the children of so many of those veterans were becoming very proud of how their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts stepped up when almost the entire world NEEDED them to step up.
This was a country-style military ballad primarily for an American audience, most of whom had never heard of the HMS Hood befoe. That explains why he says the war "had just begun" in '41 and the "unique" and upbeat style you mentioned. The British, especially before the American entry into the war but also after, have a strong heroic element for Americans. We love rooting them on as they stood almost completely alone against the Third Reich and her allies. "The world depends on us," indeed. Churchill, the Battle of Britain, and the Carry-on attitude of the Brits at that time enduce an almost patriotic response among Americans. We can be proud of people in other countries as well as our own.
Actually the "war", as in Americans being killed (Merchant Navy = civilians) began before Japan attacked us. Soon after March 1941 I believe, when 87% of Americans did not want to get into another war started by Europe. "Merchant Navy crews were killed at a rate of 1 in 26 (US Navy rate was 1 in 114). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_United_States_Merchant_Navy
@lamoe4175 1. No one counts the official beginning of a war that way. If that were the case, we would already be at war with Iran and her proxies in the Middle East since American civilians have been taken hostage by Hamas and US service members have been killed by an Iranian strike. 2. While it is used to describe the general concept and for the specific fleets of many countries, the name of the US merchant fleet is not the US Merchant Navy, but the US Merchant Marine. This is the case even in instances in which an act of war causes them to be designated as military personnel.
Always enjoyed Johnny Horton, but the best is the Battle of New Orleans. By the way, it was almost the only battle America won in the War of 1812. Oops, the peace treaty had already been signed, but word had not yet reached New Orleans. Song and delivery are fun.
Johnny Horton was a national treasure. He's buried near my great-grandparents in Bossier City, Louisiana. His grave had been marked by a guitar in a glass case, but I'm pretty sure it has been gone for quite a while. His song "Battle of New Orleans" is one of the first songs we learned as children and still comes to mind from time to time.
I'm aging myself here but I was about 3-4 yrs old when I heard that song and I had one of those stationary, spring riding horses that bounced up and down and back and forth and I made my poor grandmother play it over while I rode my horse. I still remember doing that and having the time of my life 50 yrs later. Still love Johnny Horton and play his songs for my grandkids. At a yr old 3 of four can jump in their jolly jumpers in time to that music and the last ones just likes to stomp her little feet to it. lol
"Subject that ain't brought up often." What you talking about Bismark by Sabaton was released three years ago. If you ain't seen the official video yet you should helped animated by World of Warships. The ship appearing out of the mist next to the fishing boat is just amazing.
I wrote a song many moons ago called a Soldier cried a silent tear last night on the deck of the ship my first song I wrote at age 11 is called when you have love last year I wrote a mother's day song called mama you are not alone and this year I wrote a father's day song called Dad you are more than a Dad a friend but your a Hero a super man a teacher you will never know just how much you mean to me and how special you are gone but not forgotten my Native Indigenous dad fought in Vietnam and Korea I lost him in 2005i miss him so much I miss having a dad to call me on my birthday in mother's day at Christmas time giving each other gifts he loved buffalo meat and fry bread I loved chocolates from around the world cause when he was in the war he would send me chocolates and cookies from around the world
When informed by school teachers that her 3 children were struggling with history, our Mom bought this album as she knew music was a motivator for us. I love Johnny Horton to this day. We kids not only learned from this album but our Mother as well as she remembered events from this album as well as being a room mother escort to my fourth grade field trip to Jamestown, Va. The knowledge she learned helped her achieve her US Citizenship with only a fourth grade education. She is 90 years old now and sharp as a tack, not to mention my hero❣️. Try Comanche from this same album. It’s about Custer’s horse at Little Big Horn.
I play my 8 tracks all the time. Being from Alaska of course my favorite songs are North To Alaska, When It's Springtime In Alaska and Johnny Reb...I have my 1960 Film on VHS " North To Alaska " starring John Wayne and teen heart throb singer Fabian.. about the Alaska Gold Rush. Johnny Hortons North To Alaska is the movies theme song.. check it out. I dont know if it is even available on dvd....
Johnny Horton, "John Paul Jones".... another famous British (Scotsman) Sailor who fought for the USA during the War of Independance. He is also known as the father of the American Navy.
I learned a lot of history listening to country music. It made studying in school so much easier. He does a song about the Little Big Horn- Comanche and the battle of new Orleans
The vast majority of his songs are of this style or similar, a deviation I can think of that I enjoy a lot is All for the Love of a Girl, though still has that folksy story telling tinge it's a bit softer and uses a choir backing. These are basically folk and very certain country artists for those kinds of songs, big names in that with their own spins include Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, one that's currently working who does great folksy country is Colter Wall, who is Canadian but does his music in the style of Appalachia which is where a lot of American folk is rooted from, which in turn was seeded from Scotland in a lot of initial cultural heritage but much it's own thing. A lot of folk is all about telling a story with music, even if wordless, and country derived from it. These are very much folk music with some extra touches. I believe folk of all countries is underappreciated, of course I myself am invested in American folk specifically.
That ship was beautiful. Sleek, and slick, it was as fast as it looked from the side, and it was as formidable as it was wide. It sank the Brit's number one capital ship. It was doomed from then on. The Brits were embarrassed, that sinking brought a end to the sea power, they had enjoyed for 200 plus years before that. The Brits came for it hard and without mercy. No quarter given, and none taken. The Bismarck went down fighting.
The sinking of the HMS Hood did NOT bring the end of Britain's sea superpower. The sinking was not public knowledge for sometime. Only in early 1942 with the sinking of the British battleships in the East by the Japanese did Britain's seapower diminish. Usamerica's seapower also suffered with the attack on the Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbour. So don't say the British Admiralty were embarrassed!! The Hood was sunk when a shell entered the Magazine which caused the fatal explosion.
Johnny Horton made a lot of good songs about American history, such as 'Battle of New Orleans, 'Comanche the Brave Horse,' and my favorite, 'Jim Bridger.' The Blues Brothers recorded 'Sink the Bismarck' for the Bob's Country Bunker scene, but it wasn't used in the movie. There is a rough audio recording on youtube, if you're interested.
If I remember correctly, contributing to the Bismarck's demise were two torpedo hits from Tiger Moth biplanes. Corrections are invited. I remember hearing that song on the radio as a lad. It's truly a blast from the past.
the 50s had an era of what you could call hero ballads. they were snappy fun songs that told stories. battle of new orleans, ballad of davey crockett, casey jones, ballad of the alamo and many more
No one brought you closer to history than Johnny Horton, another shooting star! Died in a car accident at the height of his career. My favorite Rockabilly singer of all time. His music is unique. Try some of his non historical songs; “I’m A One Woman Man”, (cover by George Jones, which is said to have saved his sagging career) Honky-Tonk Man, (cover by Dwight Yoakam) “Cherokee Boogie “, (cover by BR549) and “Whispering Pines” (covered by lots of artists). There’s many more. Enjoy, and I love your site! A little side note He was married to Hank Williams’ widowed wife!
Johnny Horton did several songs of this type. Some examples are: North To Alaska Battle of New Orleans Jim Bridger Johnny Reb Johnny Freedom He also did several ballads and love songs When It's Springtime in Alaska Whisperin Pines He died young in a car wreck so sadly we only have a few years of his amazing talent. So glad the recordings preserve it. Thanks for the reaction. I'd check out one of the historical songs and one of the ballads. I think Whisperin' Pines is one of my dad's favorite songs.
At one point someone (I can't remember who) in the British government offered a Victoria cross ( under 1400 ever awarded in 170 years) to anyone who sank the Bismarck or its sister ship tirpitz. That's how big of a threat they were
A little backstory on Johnny Horton he was a high school history teacher and started writing songs so his students could learn history with Johnny's upbeat story telling and song writing style the students were able to retain the history lessons better
You're mixing him up with the writer of The Battle of New Orleans, Jimmy Driftwood. He was a history teacher in Arkansas and wrote a huge number of history based songs.
I grew up in a house of Johnny Horton fans. My Dad is American and Mother was English. It was great when we listened to "1814". It was about the Battle of New Orleans (USA vs England). We all sang along with Mom making rude noises sporadically. That would have been in the 60's.....good memories and a funny song.
Craig, I was watching your reaction with anticipation - it isn't what you'd expect in a song about WWII, but Johnny Horton had a great way with words and delivery! Can't wait until you react to "The Battle of New Orleans!" That one should raise your eyebrows and get a chuckle from you! Thanks for the song and reaction!!
His "Battle of New Orleans" is a similar 'historical' ballad. It was released only 15 years after the end of the war and for many it was the biggest thing in their life. The reason it's upbeat is because the Royal Navy was successful.
Johnny was a wonderful story teller, He did a song called The Battle of New Orleans, North To Alaska, Johnny Reb, Comanche. Another great story teller is Marty Robbins is the Western Genre and Tom T Hall
My aunt was the one who introduced me or the family to these songs. We've been hearing this song at least once a day when she was cleaning the house and whatnot. There are more but I would need to hear them to remember completely.
Battle of New Orleans was another great song. These are all written when we were still young, recovering from our parents fighting in WWII. We couldn't mince words, we had to fight.
Craig you should check out Gordon Lightfoot and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. He’s a Canadian folk singer and this is the story of a cargo freighter that sank on Lake Superior in 1957 during a storm. Great song. He also sings Sundown which is another that you should hear.
This was the theme song to an American movie. Bismarck's sister was captured leaving Argentina after repairs, and the allies caught her leaving and destroyed the steering. Eventually the Germans scuttled their ship. Those were desperate times for the world.
Thank you! I look forward to seeing more Johnny Horton. He had a unique way of setting history to music. Battle of New Orleans and Johnny Reb are a couple of my favorites, but I enjoy all his music.
This came out in 1960 and was on the early rock and country charts. The Marching theme was more common back then. It's similar to a Christmas classic song Snoopy and The Red Baron. It's not Country more folk but I believe you would enjoy Wreck of the Edmonton Fitzgerald is a song by Gordon Lightfoot. It is also a true story.
Hey, check out the Battle of New Orleans! You'll love it lol :D Oh, and "Commanche (the Brave Horse)". I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, and after General Custer's last stand, the only survivor was his horse, Commanche, who was cared for by a company of soldiers at West Point until it reached the end of its venerable life.
Johnny Horton married Hank Williams widow. He was known as “the singing fisherman” and was a FANTASTIC story teller. He was killed by a drunk driver on November 5, 1960. Rest easy sir
Your in for a treat. Johnny sang history like no one else. My favourites are North to Alaska about the Klondike gold rush, The Battle of New Orleans, Jim Bridger about opening the west. Etc….
Whispering pines is one of my personal favorites, I just turned 49 and remember listening to Johnny Horton on reel-to-reel when I was like 3 on a system my dad brought back from Vietnam, and if I could sing like anyone man it would be Johnny Horton without a question
Other songs he did like this, Johnny Reb, Comanche the Brave Horse, Johnny Freedom, Jim Bridger. You might give a listen to The Battle of New Orleans, but, you may feel a bit like a German listening to this one.
I've been hoping to hear you play some Johnny Horton. The Reuben James is another good one about a ship at sea. He also sang beautiful love songs..All For the Love of a Girl, and my Moms favorite, Whispering Pines. Such a beautiful voice.
Johnny Horton was a school teacher and he used songs like this to help his pupils remember history.
He never was. The writer of the Battle of New Orleans, Jimmy Driftwood, was a high school history teacher under his real name, James Morris. This song was written by Horton's manager.
Thank you very much. I had never heard that. I’m 72 and a little embarrassed. Well, better late than never.🫡👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🫡✌️
Interesting Johnny Horton predicted his own death. In 1959 they told his close friends that he was going to die a severe death and soon. In 1960 on his way home to Shreveport from Austin Texas a drunk driver hit them head-on. He had figured out that story based folk song was the right way to go in his career. I like the Bismarck and Johnny Reb
Looking at the photo of the Bismark, I think the lyrics should have been "Those shells as big as steers; those guns as big as trees." I mean look at those long guns folded across the front of the ship -- trees, not steers.
His North to Alaska is also worth your time…
Yes it is fantastic and love that John Wayne movie as well.🥰
My favorite
He passed away in a car accident a few months before the movie and song were released and never got to see how popular they became. North to Alaska and McClintock are some of my favorite western/comedies.
@jawo8754 John Wayne didn't care if he made a fool of himself or if someone else did. He also didn't mind giving younger actors the "stage" so to speak.
@@colleenrogers3512 💯 he was a class act.
Since you enjoyed this one, you'll enjoy "Battle of New Orleans". Johnny was a very good story teller and had a beautiful voice too. Loved watching you enjoy this song❤❤
"North To Alaska" and "Jim Bridger" are two other of his great historical songs. (And if you never heard it, check out the Blues Brothers cover of this.) ruclips.net/video/7CPXnur0vMs/видео.html
I was going to say this too. Everyone make this blow up so he'll se it.
Yes! I remember sitting in my grandparents front porch listening to Battle of New Orleans.
My dad played a lot of the singing American, so I have fond memories of his music, battle of New Orleans is one of my ringtones.
Also battle of bull run
I had a great uncle on The HMS Hood as a stoker 1st class who went down with his ship. RIP Lawrence Crowley.
RIP to this hero
I had a great uncle also a stoker who went down with his ship during WW1 at the Battle Of Jutland, his ship was HMS Queen Mary.
RIP to your Uncle
Comanche the Brave Horse is another amazing song of his. I could name his songs all day lol
Johnny Horton surely made any patriotic Brit proud in 1960. Even as an American, I am so proud of the British Navy when I hear this Johnny Horton ballad.
You gotta admit.. we Americans can make a patriotic song and this one was the bravery of England!!
Don't forget though, your lot were so busy in so many areas all over the world, the Allies had to support where they could. In the end, the job got done and we all have been left with the scars to show. Lest We Forget!
Nice tribute to the Royal Navy
I'm intrigued by the first line in this song. "In May of 1941, the war had just begun". When I was in school we were taught that WW II began with the NAZI invasion of Poland, in 1939.
@@Doug_BC You are correct but USA didn't enter the conflict until after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, so a small unintentional technicality I imagine.😁
The destruction of the German Super ship was a call of national pride for the British, it was seen as being a mission of utmost importance as both symbolic but also to clear the sea of the Bismarck
Johnny Horton is my 2nd cousin, his Mom was my Grandma's Sister. I had 4 uncles that looked and sounded like him.
He did historical music, which is really weird, but he made it work. Underrated artist
He was never underrated in His Day
I do assure you.
We treasured these songs and many many more like them. The wonderful ones like these had a Heart.
And courage to fight against Tyranny.
The Battle of New Orleans, Johnny Reb, Ballad of The Green Berets
The Ballad of the Green Berets was by S.Sgt. Barry Saddler.
@@richdiddens4059 I seen the movie,when way too young.
The scene where the wall of dpikes hit the soldier, buried head in back seat of car and did not watch for a while.
As richdiddens4059 said The Ballad of the Green Berets was done by staff Sergeant Barry Saddler. That song came out five or six years after Johnny died. Johnny's son, Johnny Horton Jr, did do a cover of The Ballad of the Green Berets.
Hats off to the men and women of the Royal Navy! Bravo Zulu!
Some of the lyrics from Johnny Horton’s Battle of New Orleans. “So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannon balls and powdered his behind.
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind. “
Lol. My favorite but I also love North to Alaska
He was married to Hank Williams widow. Whispering Pines is one of my favorite songs by him.
Classic Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton was one of the great storytellers of my childhood. The Bismarch was released in 1960 and was based on actual facts.
It was his 2nd highest hit after "The Battle of New Orleans".
The beat of the military drums 🥁 is setting up the marching beat which is addictive. Great song. Great reaction Craig. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Hi Mary . 🇨🇦✨✨✨✨
@@trevorgwelch7412 Cheers Trevor. 👍✌️🎶🇨🇦
I grew up listening to him. Still have this record❤
So do I. It was my dads.
I was 12 when this song came out. The war wasnt that far in the past, and everyone loved this song. It was a great post war song of victory and made everyone feel good.
I've always enjoyed this Country singer's songs. Johnny Horton has always been good at singing history and he really puts feeling into each one. His voice is unique. He died way too soon in a car accident.
He married Hank Williams legal Widow, Billie Jean.
So Billie Jean was married to two Country legends and lost them both.
Can't understand why people never mention some of his absolutely superb songs: The Golden Rocket, Got the Bull By the Horns, Out in New Mexico, Take Me Like I Am, Counterfeit Love, First Train Headin' South, I'm Ready If You're Willing, I'm a Honky Tonk Man, Ole Slewfoot. Everyone of these songs is pure fire. Johnny's voice was dynamite!.
I would guess most people have not listened to his albums, but man…. He has quite the library! So good!
The 1960's might have been the prefect time for this song. The veterans that won the battle were still quite young, country music was quite popular, and the children of so many of those veterans were becoming very proud of how their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts stepped up when almost the entire world NEEDED them to step up.
The great-uncle of a friend served on the Bismarck. He died at 18. All that he left were a few letters 😢.
There's a video on RUclips of Johnny Horton singing a British version of The Battle of New Orleans.
This was a country-style military ballad primarily for an American audience, most of whom had never heard of the HMS Hood befoe. That explains why he says the war "had just begun" in '41 and the "unique" and upbeat style you mentioned.
The British, especially before the American entry into the war but also after, have a strong heroic element for Americans. We love rooting them on as they stood almost completely alone against the Third Reich and her allies.
"The world depends on us," indeed. Churchill, the Battle of Britain, and the Carry-on attitude of the Brits at that time enduce an almost patriotic response among Americans. We can be proud of people in other countries as well as our own.
Except the war didn't start for the US until Dec 41 not May.
Actually the "war", as in Americans being killed (Merchant Navy = civilians) began before Japan attacked us. Soon after March 1941 I believe, when 87% of Americans did not want to get into another war started by Europe. "Merchant Navy crews were killed at a rate of 1 in 26 (US Navy rate was 1 in 114). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_United_States_Merchant_Navy
@lamoe4175
1. No one counts the official beginning of a war that way. If that were the case, we would already be at war with Iran and her proxies in the Middle East since American civilians have been taken hostage by Hamas and US service members have been killed by an Iranian strike.
2. While it is used to describe the general concept and for the specific fleets of many countries, the name of the US merchant fleet is not the US Merchant Navy, but the US Merchant Marine. This is the case even in instances in which an act of war causes them to be designated as military personnel.
The upbeat tone is a patriotic tone and pays off in the end with the sinking of the Bismarck.Its a tribute to the brave men of the British navy
The Bismarck... stopped by a biplane!
Just look up Johnny Horton and just listen to it all, they are all good. My daughter passed a test because of the song battle of New Orleans.
I love Johnny Horton.
Always enjoyed Johnny Horton, but the best is the Battle of New Orleans. By the way, it was almost the only battle America won in the War of 1812. Oops, the peace treaty had already been signed, but word had not yet reached New Orleans.
Song and delivery are fun.
Johnny Horton was a national treasure. He's buried near my great-grandparents in Bossier City, Louisiana. His grave had been marked by a guitar in a glass case, but I'm pretty sure it has been gone for quite a while. His song "Battle of New Orleans" is one of the first songs we learned as children and still comes to mind from time to time.
Johnny Reb... fantastic song by Johnny Horton
I'm aging myself here but I was about 3-4 yrs old when I heard that song and I had one of those stationary, spring riding horses that bounced up and down and back and forth and I made my poor grandmother play it over while I rode my horse. I still remember doing that and having the time of my life 50 yrs later. Still love Johnny Horton and play his songs for my grandkids. At a yr old 3 of four can jump in their jolly jumpers in time to that music and the last ones just likes to stomp her little feet to it. lol
Johnny Horton's songs were great stories! Battle of New Orleans and North to Alaska!
"Subject that ain't brought up often." What you talking about Bismark by Sabaton was released three years ago. If you ain't seen the official video yet you should helped animated by World of Warships. The ship appearing out of the mist next to the fishing boat is just amazing.
I wrote a song many moons ago called a Soldier cried a silent tear last night on the deck of the ship my first song I wrote at age 11 is called when you have love last year I wrote a mother's day song called mama you are not alone and this year I wrote a father's day song called Dad you are more than a Dad a friend but your a Hero a super man a teacher you will never know just how much you mean to me and how special you are gone but not forgotten my Native Indigenous dad fought in Vietnam and Korea I lost him in 2005i miss him so much I miss having a dad to call me on my birthday in mother's day at Christmas time giving each other gifts he loved buffalo meat and fry bread I loved chocolates from around the world cause when he was in the war he would send me chocolates and cookies from around the world
I think the upbeat sound with the drums is like a marching song. Rally the troops.
When informed by school teachers that her 3 children were struggling with history, our Mom bought this album as she knew music was a motivator for us. I love Johnny Horton to this day. We kids not only learned from this album but our Mother as well as she remembered events from this album as well as being a room mother escort to my fourth grade field trip to Jamestown, Va. The knowledge she learned helped her achieve her US Citizenship with only a fourth grade education. She is 90 years old now and sharp as a tack, not to mention my hero❣️. Try Comanche from this same album. It’s about Custer’s horse at Little Big Horn.
I play my 8 tracks all the time. Being from Alaska of course my favorite songs are North To Alaska, When It's Springtime In Alaska and Johnny Reb...I have my 1960 Film on VHS " North To Alaska " starring John Wayne and teen heart throb singer Fabian.. about the Alaska Gold Rush. Johnny Hortons North To Alaska is the movies theme song.. check it out. I dont know if it is even available on dvd....
grew up listening to horton and others, it was a different age for sure.
Love Johnny Horton. Listen to North to Alaska and Whispering Pines!❤
When its Springtime in Alaska its 40 below.
Johnny Horton, "John Paul Jones".... another famous British (Scotsman) Sailor who fought for the USA during the War of Independance. He is also known as the father of the American Navy.
This song was released in 1960. I was 6-7 when I first heard it, and I have enjoyed it ever since.
Johnny reb and battle of New Orleans are a couple of my favorite songs from Johnny Horton.
I learned a lot of history listening to country music. It made studying in school so much easier. He does a song about the Little Big Horn- Comanche and the battle of new Orleans
I learned a lot of history from Johnny Horton songs, but one the best heartbreak songs is his “Whispering Pines”
Such a beautiful song❤❤❤
Gold record singer of the 50s-60s! ABSOLUTELY FAMOUS!
The vast majority of his songs are of this style or similar, a deviation I can think of that I enjoy a lot is All for the Love of a Girl, though still has that folksy story telling tinge it's a bit softer and uses a choir backing.
These are basically folk and very certain country artists for those kinds of songs, big names in that with their own spins include Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, one that's currently working who does great folksy country is Colter Wall, who is Canadian but does his music in the style of Appalachia which is where a lot of American folk is rooted from, which in turn was seeded from Scotland in a lot of initial cultural heritage but much it's own thing.
A lot of folk is all about telling a story with music, even if wordless, and country derived from it. These are very much folk music with some extra touches. I believe folk of all countries is underappreciated, of course I myself am invested in American folk specifically.
My granny raised me up on this music. I still love the old tunes ❤
“All For the Love of a Girl” is one of my favorite Johnny Horton songs.
That ship was beautiful. Sleek, and slick, it was as fast as it looked from the side, and it was as formidable as it was wide. It sank the Brit's number one capital ship. It was doomed from then on. The Brits were embarrassed, that sinking brought a end to the sea power, they had enjoyed for 200 plus years before that. The Brits came for it hard and without mercy. No quarter given, and none taken. The Bismarck went down fighting.
The sinking of the HMS Hood did NOT bring the end of Britain's sea superpower. The sinking was not public knowledge for sometime. Only in early 1942 with the sinking of the British battleships in the East by the Japanese did Britain's seapower diminish. Usamerica's seapower also suffered with the attack on the Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbour. So don't say the British Admiralty were embarrassed!! The Hood was sunk when a shell entered the Magazine which caused the fatal explosion.
Horton was a history teacher who wrote songs to in terest his students and help them remember.
Johnny Horton made a lot of good songs about American history, such as 'Battle of New Orleans, 'Comanche the Brave Horse,' and my favorite, 'Jim Bridger.' The Blues Brothers recorded 'Sink the Bismarck' for the Bob's Country Bunker scene, but it wasn't used in the movie. There is a rough audio recording on youtube, if you're interested.
If I remember correctly, contributing to the Bismarck's demise were two torpedo hits from Tiger Moth biplanes. Corrections are invited. I remember hearing that song on the radio as a lad. It's truly a blast from the past.
I've read Fairey Swordfish biplanes deamaged their rudder and allowed slower British ships to catch up.
@@samuelwoods7463 I remember marvelling that biplanes were still used at that late date. Thank you kindly for the correction.
Torpedoes had to go in the water slow for a smooth run.
@@samuelwoods7463 Those torpedo bomber crew had big brass ones. "Here I am, low and slow. Shoot me! Shoot me!"
If you were really good, come in lower than their guns could depress. Or coordinated with dive bombers, so they were shooting up.
the 50s had an era of what you could call hero ballads. they were snappy fun songs that told stories. battle of new orleans, ballad of davey crockett, casey jones, ballad of the alamo and many more
No one brought you closer to history than Johnny Horton, another shooting star! Died in a car accident at the height of his career. My favorite Rockabilly singer of all time. His music is unique. Try some of his non historical songs; “I’m A One Woman Man”, (cover by George Jones, which is said to have saved his sagging career) Honky-Tonk Man, (cover by Dwight Yoakam) “Cherokee Boogie “, (cover by BR549) and “Whispering Pines” (covered by lots of artists). There’s many more. Enjoy, and I love your site! A little side note He was married to Hank Williams’ widowed wife!
He was a great ballad singer. The Mansion I Owned.
Correction Mansion You Stole
Johnny Horton did several songs of this type. Some examples are:
North To Alaska
Battle of New Orleans
Jim Bridger
Johnny Reb
Johnny Freedom
He also did several ballads and love songs
When It's Springtime in Alaska
Whisperin Pines
He died young in a car wreck so sadly we only have a few years of his amazing talent. So glad the recordings preserve it. Thanks for the reaction. I'd check out one of the historical songs and one of the ballads. I think Whisperin' Pines is one of my dad's favorite songs.
If you've never heard it, battle of bull run and Comanche are great songs too
@@curtiscriscoe367 Thanks I think I've heard of Comanche, but not sure. Pretty sure I've not heard Battle of bull run.
He was a history teacher. Can you imagine?
At one point someone (I can't remember who) in the British government offered a Victoria cross ( under 1400 ever awarded in 170 years) to anyone who sank the Bismarck or its sister ship tirpitz. That's how big of a threat they were
What a great 👍 old song. Johnny Horton has a lot of great songs.
Americans loves winner. Did good Brits.
Now in my very old age this song has brought me to tears thank you for this reaction.
Public school history class wasn’t boring! We had Johnny Horton and excellent teachers. 😁👍
That song comes from an album called "Johnny Horton Makes History." It's mostly battle songs. There's a great song about John Paul Jones.
Awesome!!
A little backstory on Johnny Horton he was a high school history teacher and started writing songs so his students could learn history with Johnny's upbeat story telling and song writing style the students were able to retain the history lessons better
You're mixing him up with the writer of The Battle of New Orleans, Jimmy Driftwood. He was a history teacher in Arkansas and wrote a huge number of history based songs.
Somewhere on my computer, I have an aerial reconnaissance photo of the Bismarck hiding out in a Norwegian fjord.
I think that must have been the Tirpitz.
Show the faith, fortitude of the Brits! None quite like you! Love you all!!
Johnny was an amazing story teller about everything from the American civil war to gold rush..etc
Yes Johnny Horton made learning history fun. LOL😅
You should do Tex Ritters Deck of Cards. It tells such a beautiful story and I promise, it will leave you thinking.
You gotta hear "johnny Reb" and "John Paul Jones" all his songs are just like this one good beat and a fun history lesson
He did another great song "battle of New Orleans!" (Actually fought 2 weeks after the war was over!")
I grew up in a house of Johnny Horton fans. My Dad is American and Mother was English. It was great when we listened to "1814". It was about the Battle of New Orleans (USA vs England). We all sang along with Mom making rude noises sporadically. That would have been in the 60's.....good memories and a funny song.
I have listened to Johnny Horton for as long as I can remember. This song is probably in my top 5 favorites .
Craig, I was watching your reaction with anticipation - it isn't what you'd expect in a song about WWII, but Johnny Horton had a great way with words and delivery! Can't wait until you react to "The Battle of New Orleans!" That one should raise your eyebrows and get a chuckle from you! Thanks for the song and reaction!!
His "Battle of New Orleans" is a similar 'historical' ballad. It was released only 15 years after the end of the war and for many it was the biggest thing in their life. The reason it's upbeat is because the Royal Navy was successful.
Great song
Johnny was a wonderful story teller, He did a song called The Battle of New Orleans, North To Alaska, Johnny Reb, Comanche. Another great story teller is Marty Robbins is the Western Genre and Tom T Hall
Great work by Johnny Horton. The beat is inspirational.
My aunt was the one who introduced me or the family to these songs. We've been hearing this song at least once a day when she was cleaning the house and whatnot. There are more but I would need to hear them to remember completely.
Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans" is a MUST listen!
PT 109 is another good "history" song. Also, Big John.
Battle of New Orleans was another great song. These are all written when we were still young, recovering from our parents fighting in WWII. We couldn't mince words, we had to fight.
Craig you should check out Gordon Lightfoot and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. He’s a Canadian folk singer and this is the story of a cargo freighter that sank on Lake Superior in 1957 during a storm. Great song. He also sings Sundown which is another that you should hear.
This was the theme song to an American movie. Bismarck's sister was captured leaving Argentina after repairs, and the allies caught her leaving and destroyed the steering. Eventually the Germans scuttled their ship. Those were desperate times for the world.
The Bismarck steering was destroyed on open water. The Germans didn't scuttle her. The British sank her.
One of my favorite.Helped my children in history.
Wish more people would react to this
Thank you! I look forward to seeing more Johnny Horton. He had a unique way of setting history to music. Battle of New Orleans and Johnny Reb are a couple of my favorites, but I enjoy all his music.
Your eyes are just a glowing and twinkling glad you are enjoying it
This came out in 1960 and was on the early rock and country charts. The Marching theme was more common back then.
It's similar to a Christmas classic song
Snoopy and The Red Baron.
It's not Country more folk but I believe you would enjoy
Wreck of the Edmonton Fitzgerald is a song by Gordon Lightfoot. It is also a true story.
Imagine learning history with music, you'll never forget it! 😂
My Dad played this for us on long car trips in our 1968 Ford station wagon. We LOVED it.
Hey, check out the Battle of New Orleans! You'll love it lol :D Oh, and "Commanche (the Brave Horse)". I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, and after General Custer's last stand, the only survivor was his horse, Commanche, who was cared for by a company of soldiers at West Point until it reached the end of its venerable life.
He has many great songs. Alot are like this one
Johnny Horton married Hank Williams widow. He was known as “the singing fisherman” and was a FANTASTIC story teller. He was killed by a drunk driver on November 5, 1960.
Rest easy sir
Your in for a treat. Johnny sang history like no one else. My favourites are North to Alaska about the Klondike gold rush, The Battle of New Orleans, Jim Bridger about opening the west. Etc….
Whispering pines is one of my personal favorites, I just turned 49 and remember listening to Johnny Horton on reel-to-reel when I was like 3 on a system my dad brought back from Vietnam, and if I could sing like anyone man it would be Johnny Horton without a question
I love Jonny Horton, and this is a great song. Glad you like it. ❤
Other songs he did like this, Johnny Reb, Comanche the Brave Horse, Johnny Freedom, Jim Bridger. You might give a listen to The Battle of New Orleans, but, you may feel a bit like a German listening to this one.
I've been hoping to hear you play some Johnny Horton. The Reuben James is another good one about a ship at sea. He also sang beautiful love songs..All For the Love of a Girl, and my Moms favorite, Whispering Pines. Such a beautiful voice.