Digital Tradition Mirror

Johnny Bull, My Jo, John

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Johnny Bull, My Jo, John

O Johnny Bull, my jo, John, I wonder what you mean;
Are you on foreign conquest bent, or what ambitious scheme?
Now list to brother Jonathan, your fruitless plans forego,
Remain on your fast-anchored isle,
O Johnny Bull, my jo.

O Johnny Bull, my jo, John, don't come across the main;
Our fathers bled and suffered, John, our freedom to maintain,
And him who in the cradle, John, repelled the ruthless foe,
Provoke not when to manhood grown,
O Johnny Bull, my jo.

O Johnny Bull, my jo, John, on Erie's distant shores,
See how the battle rages, and loud the cannon roars;
But Perry taught our seamen to crush the assailing foe,
He met and made them ours,
O Johnny Bull, my jo.
What though at Washington a base marauding band;
Our monuments of art, John, destroyed with ruthless hand ?
It was a savage warfare, beneath a generous foe,
And brings the more disgrace on you,
O Johnny Bull my jo.

O Johnny Bull, my jo, John, when all your schemes have failed,
To wipe away the stigmas, John, for New Orleans you sailed;
Far heavier woes await thee, John, for Jackson meets the foe,
Whose name and fame's immortal,
O Johnny Bull, my jo.

Your schemes to gather laurels here I guess were badly planned;
We have whipped you on the ocean, jo, we have bothered you on land.
Then hie to old England, John, thy fruitless plans forego
And haste to thy fast-anchored isle
O Johnny Bull, my jo.

Tune: John Anderson, My Jo
Note: From War of 1812

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!