"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),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 and published by Forster Music Publisher, Inc. The music was copyrighted 7 February 1917 and the copyright was renewed 29 December 1944.Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 1, Musical Compositions, New Series, Vol. 12, First Half of 1917Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 3, Musical Compositions, New Series, Vol. 40, For the Year 1945 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.
Lyrics
Original lyrics, 1917, by Ed Rose
1st verse (16 bars, , 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 Allemande left with the corner gal Do-si-do with your own Then you all promenade With the sweet corner maid Singing "Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!"
Inspiration for the song According 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.United Press, August 14, 1945: Classmates Inspiration for Song, 'Oh Johnny, Oh'," Tonawanda News, August 14, 1945, pg. 6, col. 6
Notable recordings Premier Quartet Blue Amberol Records, wax cylinder (1917)
The Andrews Sisters with the Vic Schoen Orchestra 2840 Decca, 78 rpm; 10 inch (1939) Recorded November 9, 1939, New York City Side A matrix 66498The Decca labels: A Discography — Vol.2, The Eastern & Southern Sessions (1934–1942), by Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Press (1996) Swing It! The Andrews Sisters Story, by John Sforza, University Press of Kentucky (2000), pg. 34 Audio sample
Bonnie Baker with Orrin Tucker and His Orchestra 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 'Wee' Bonnie Baker Gailey, 73, Band Singer of 'Oh Johnny' Hit, by Seth Borenstein Sun-Sentinel, August 14, 1990Bonnie Baker and Baby Face Make New Hits Out of Old Songs, Life, March 4, 1940, pg. 88
Peggy Lee with orchestra conducted by Jack Marshall Album: I Like Men! Capitol Records, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 inch (April 1959) stereo mono Recorded 1959 Audio sample
Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra NBC broadcasts Recorded January 25, 1940, at the Savoy, New York
Kathy Linden released a version of the song as a single in 1958 entitled "Oh Johnny, Oh!".Kathy Linden, "Oh Johnny, Oh!" single release Retrieved January 22, 2016.
Filmography 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 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005 film) During the scene when the children are playing hide and seek — when Lucy goes through the wardrobe "Blitz" (2024 film)
Original publications Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh,
Sheet music (public domain) See sheet music collections: Indiana University Bloomington — IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana University of Southern California — USC Music Library: Sheet Music Catalog
References