When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1863)
by Patrick Gilmore (1829-1892)
arr. by Dan Davidson
SATB Recording
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Lyrics:
When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah, hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah, hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies, they will all turn out,
And the men will cheer, and the boys will shout, when Johnny comes marching home.
Get ready for the Jubilee, Hurrah, hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three, Hurrah, hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow,
And the men will cheer, and the boys will shout, when Johnny comes marching home.
In 1861 , hurrah, hurrah!
We sent our war our only son, hurrah, hurrah!
IN 1862 , a bloody battle did ensue
In 1863 , they got besieged in Tennessee
In 1884, the battle came to the Eastern shore
In 1865, we heard our Johnny was still alive
And the men will cheer, and the boys will shout, when Johnny comes marching home
When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah, hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah, hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies, they will all turn out,
And the men will cheer, and the boys will shout, when Johnny comes marching home.
Patrick Gilmore (1829-1892)
biography
Known as the "Father of Concert Band", Gilmore led the Salem Brigade Band from 1855-1858 before becoming the leader of the Boston Brigade Band in 1859. Following the Civil War, Gilmore organized huge musical concerts in Boston such as the 1872 World Peace Jubilee. Throughout his career, Gilmore transformed traditional military bands into what became the modern concert band by adding woodwinds and expanding the repertoire. He heavily influenced John Phillip Sousa (composer of Stars and Stripes, Forever) who ushered the popularity of concert band music into the 20th century and on to record recordings. When Johnny Comes Marching Home is one of Gilmore's most successful pieces.