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The Agenda for C21

The Used Johnnys
Language: English


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Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye
(Anonymous)


August 2003


HISTORY

We wrote the words to this song in late July 2003 in response to the ongoing Iraqi war. We recorded over August and went live on the net in September 2003. The song was reworked in March 2004 adding lead guitar and sax. We chose to use the tune and musical style of the traditional "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" for several reasons.

This song is instantly recognisable to many people throughout the world and has a long history of reflecting the suffering of those involved in war - mostly "Johnny" of course - but also the others who suffer from war: the innocents, non-combatants, medical personnel and families.

Patrick Gilmore said he derived his Civil War song from an Irish folk song "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye". Gilmore was born in Ireland, emigrating to America just before the Potato Famines.

Gilmore's song was written "To the Army and Navy of the Union", it was sung on both sides of the firing line as well as at home.

The original words of the Irish folk song are not the joyous & triumphant lyrics of the Civil War tune but a lament on the horrors of any war.

see: http://www.instantknowledgenews.com/jo...
for more history.

Why The Agenda for Century 21? It's the US plan for "world leadership" in their own words at the new american century.
(There are people who can't stand what America stands for)

The agenda for Century 21,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Has really only just begun,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Send Johnny out to gather in,
The harvest of political spin,
And we'll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

(Our forces are friends and liberators)

Get ready for more oil it's free,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Johnny saved it all for you and me,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
He went to Iraq to get blown away,
For less than a 100 bucks a day,
And we'll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

(Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life -
I'm the person who gets to decide not you)

(I see dead people)

(The money from Iraqi oil will be yours)

Waiting for the prophecy's joy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The rapture looms for Johnny boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The economy saved, the lads destroyed,
The judgement of the final void,
And we'll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

At least two Johnnys every day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Will find themselves at home to stay,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Flown stateside to the land of the free,
Laid down in the local cemetery,
And we'll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

(The evil ones thought we were weak
Nobody can threaten this country)

The agenda for Century 21,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Has really only just begun,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Send Johnny out to gather in,
The harvest of political spin,
And we'll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

(Challenge your listeners to love somebody just like they'd like to be loved themselves)

2006/1/21 - 21:55


FANTASTIC!!

John - 2006/8/22 - 19:17




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