About The Song
Johnny Horton: The Battle of New Orleans
“The Battle of New Orleans” is a popular novelty song by Johnny Horton, released in 1959. It tells a fictionalized account of the War of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans, exaggerating the role of General Andrew Jackson and portraying the British as incompetent.
Origins and Impact:
- The song was written by Jimmy Driftwood, who aimed for a humorous and catchy tune rather than historical accuracy.
- Despite historical inaccuracies, the song became a massive hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959 and winning a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Performance for Horton.
- “The Battle of New Orleans” helped usher in a new era of rockabilly-influenced country music.
Song Features:
- The song is known for its fast tempo, upbeat melody, and Horton’s enthusiastic vocals.
- The lyrics are simple and repetitive, with a strong focus on rhyme and rhythm.
- The song includes nonsensical elements like cotton bales bouncing off British soldiers’ heads.
Legacy:
- “The Battle of New Orleans” remains a recognizable classic, often played at sporting events and celebrations.
- While not historically accurate, the song’s catchy tune and upbeat spirit contribute to its enduring popularity.
- However, it’s important to be aware of the song’s historical inaccuracies when enjoying it.
Here are some additional resources you might find interesting:
- Listen to the song: You can find “The Battle of New Orleans” by Johnny Horton on various music streaming services or watch music videos on YouTube: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppEfGIGVteo (This might be a different version, you can search for the specific song by Johnny Horton).
- Read more about the Battle of New Orleans: [invalid URL removed]
Video
Lyrics
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip’
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans
We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin’
There wasn’t as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin’
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
We looked down a river and we see’d the British come
And there must have been a hundred of ’em beatin’ on the drum
They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring
We stood behind our cotton bales and didn’t say a thing
We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin’
There wasn’t as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin’
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Old Hickory said, “We could take ’em by surprise
If we didn’t fire our muskets ’til we looked ’em in the eye”
We held our fire ’til we see’d their faces well
Then we opened up our squirrel guns and gave ’em
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a-comin’
There wasn’t as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin’
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Yeah, they ran through the briers and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch ’em
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
We fired our cannon ’til the barrel melted down
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round
We filled his head with cannonballs ‘n’ powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind
We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin’
There wasn’t as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin’
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Yeah, they ran through the briers and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch ’em
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Hut, two, three, four
Sound off, three, four
Hut, two, three, four
Sound off, three, four
Hut, two, three, four
Hut, two, three, four
