"Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" is a song composed by Abe Olman (1887–1984), lyricized by Ed Rose (pseudonym for Edward Smackels Jr.; 1875–1935),[3] and published by Forster Music Publisher, Inc. The music was copyrighted 7 February 1917 and the copyright was renewed 29 December 1944.[4][5] Under the Copyright Term Extension Act (1998), the sheet music is in the public domain, as is all music published in the U.S. prior to 1923. Its melody and structure form the basis of a self-calling circle dance, using square dance steps and popular in summer camps.
| "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Orrin Tucker and His Orchestra, vocal Bonnie Baker | |
| B-side | How Many Times[1] |
| Published | February 7, 1917 by Forster Music Publisher, Inc., New York[2] |
| Released | September 29, 1939 |
| Recorded | August 20, 1939[1] |
| Studio | CBS Columbia Square Studio, Los Angeles, California |
| Genre | Popular music, Big Band |
| Length | 2:39 |
| Label | Columbia 35228[1] |
| Composer(s) | Abe Olman[2] |
| Lyricist(s) | Ed Rose aka Edward Smackels, Jr.[2] |
Lyrics
edit- Original lyrics, 1917, by Ed Rose
- 1st verse (16 bars, 2⁄4, E♭ Major)
- All the girls are crazy about a certain little lad,
- Al-tho he's very, very bad,
- He could be, oh, so good when he wanted to
- Bad or good he understood 'bout love and other things,
- For every girl in town followed him around,
- Just to hold his hand and sing:
- Chorus (32 bars)
- Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny!
- How you can love!
- Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny!
- Heavens above!
- You make my sad heart jump with joy,
- And when you're near I just
- Can't sit still a minute. I'm so,
- Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny!
- Please tell me dear.
- What makes me love you so?
- You're not handsome, it's true,
- But when I look at you,
- I just, Oh, Johnny!
- Oh, Johnny! Oh!
- 2nd verse
- Johnny tried his best to hide from every girl he knew,
- But even this he couldn't do,
- For they would follow him most everywhere,
- Then his friends got him to spend a week or two at home
- It's worse now than before, 'cause the girl next door hollers thru the telephone:
- (chorus)
- World War I patriotic version, 1917, lyrics added by Raymond A. Sherwood
- Verse
- Uncle Sam is calling now for ev'ry mother's son
- To go get behind a gun and keep Old Glory waving on the sea
- Now prepare to be right there to help the cause along
- To every chap you meet when you're on the street
- You can sing this little song:
- Chorus
- Oh, Johnny, oh Johnny, why do you lag?
- Oh, Johnny, oh Johnny, run to your flag
- You're county's calling can't you hear?
- Don't stay behind while others do all the fighting, Start to
- Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Get right in line,
- And help to crush to foe.
- You're a big husky chap,
- Uncle Sam's in a scrap, You must!
- Go, Johnny! Go, Johnny! Go!
- Self-Calling circle dance version, date unknown
- (To the chorus melody)
- Well, you all join hands as you circle the ring
- Stop where you are, give your honey a swing
- Swing that little gal behind you
- Swing your own, if you have time when you get home
- Allamain left with the corner gal
- Do-saw-do with your own
- Then you all promenade
- With the sweet corner maid
- Singing "Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!"
Inspiration for the song
editAccording to an August 1945 United Press article, Ed Rose wrote the song when his friends, Mr. and Mrs. John Hansen of Akron, Ohio, began dating while attending college in Indiana. They were so conspicuously in love that Rose, also their classmate, wrote the song about them and presented them with the original manuscript.[6]
Notable recordings
edit- Blue Amberol Records, wax cylinder (1917) OCLC 39869865
- The Andrews Sisters with the Vic Schoen Orchestra
- 2840 Decca, 78 rpm; 10 inch (1939) OCLC 166342298
- Recorded November 9, 1939, New York City
- Side A matrix 66498[7][8]
- Audio sample
- Columbia, 78 rpm; 10 inch (1939)
- Recorded August 20, 1939, Los Angeles
- Side A — vocal version by Bonnie Baker
- Side B — instrumental version by Orin Tucker and His Orchestra
- Audio sample
- Pop hit on the Billboard Charts for 14 weeks, quickly became the top-selling record for the Columbia Recording Corporation, with 1.5 million records by the end of 1940[10][11]
- Peggy Lee with orchestra conducted by Jack Marshall
- Album: I Like Men!
- Capitol Records, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 inch (April 1959) OCLC 26592062 stereo OCLC 10894054 mono
- Recorded 1959
- Audio sample
- Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra
- Kathy Linden released a version of the song as a single in 1958 entitled "Oh Johnny, Oh!".[13]
Filmography
edit- Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love (1940 film), directed by Charles Lamont, Universal Pictures
- Spotlight Scandals (1943 musical film), directed by William Beaudine
- Starring Billy Gilbert, Bonnie Baker, Harry Langdon
- Swing Shift Cinderella (1945), directed by Tex Avery
- Sung as "Oh, Wolfy" by Red (voiced by Imogene Lynn) as Cinderella
- During the scene when the children are playing hide and seek — when Lucy goes through the wardrobe
Original publications
editSheet music (public domain)
editSee sheet music collections:
References
edit- ^ a b c "Columbia 78rpm numerical listing discography: 35200–35500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
- ^ a b c Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1917). Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1917 Music First Half of 1917 New Series Vol 12 Part 1. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
- ^ ASCAP Biographical Dictionary — Listed under "Ed Rose"
- 1st Edition, 1948, pg. 312
- 2nd Edition, 1952, pg. 421
- 3rd Edition, 1966, pg. 621
- 4th Edition, 1980, pg. 429
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 1, Musical Compositions, New Series, Vol. 12, First Half of 1917
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 3, Musical Compositions, New Series, Vol. 40, For the Year 1945
- ^ United Press, August 14, 1945: Classmates Inspiration for Song, 'Oh Johnny, Oh'," Tonawanda News, August 14, 1945, pg. 6, col. 6
- ^ The Decca labels: A Discography — Vol.2, The Eastern & Southern Sessions (1934–1942), by Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Press (1996) OCLC 59655056
- ^ Swing It! The Andrews Sisters Story, by John Sforza, University Press of Kentucky (2000), pg. 34 OCLC 40755241
- ^ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 2, side A.
- ^ 'Wee' Bonnie Baker Gailey, 73, Band Singer of 'Oh Johnny' Hit, by Seth Borenstein Sun-Sentinel, August 14, 1990
- ^ Bonnie Baker and Baby Face Make New Hits Out of Old Songs, Life, March 4, 1940, pg. 88
- ^ Tom Lord, The Jazz Discography Online, Lord Music, (accessed 4 May 2017; OCLC 690104143 (subscription fee required; accessible at many libraries)
- ^ Kathy Linden, "Oh Johnny, Oh!" single release Retrieved January 22, 2016.