Song History
This musical hope for peace originated during the Civil War and has demonstrated lasting appeal, growing in popularity over the years. Soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict sang it, identifying with the feeling of joy they thought would come with the end of the fighting and the return of loved ones to their homes.
The first printed sheet music for the song credits the words and music to Louis Lambert, which was determined later to be a pen name for Patrick S. Gilmore. Born in Ireland, Gilmore came to America in the 1840s along with many others who fled the famine of those years. He was a gifted musician, becoming Bandmaster for the United States Army during the Civil War and, in post-war years, the organizer of Monster Peace-Jublilees featuring orchestras of a thousand musicians and choruses of 10,000 voices.
Gilmore claimed to have learned the tune for "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" from an unidentified African-American singer and that it was a traditional African-American melody. The song's Irish sound, and Gilmore's background, lead many to discredit this claim, but no definitive evidence of the tune's origin has been discovered. It is possible that he adapted the melody from a traditional Irish folk song.
Lyrics
When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah, hurrah!
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah, hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout
The ladies, they will all turn out
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah, hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy
Hurrah, hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
Get ready for the jubilee
Hurrah, hurrah!
We’ll give the hero three times three
Hurrah, hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
Let love and friendship on that day
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest treasures then display
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part
To fill with joy the warrior’s heart
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home