Johnny Horton -- The Battle of New Orleans [REACTION]

Johnny is as traditional as it gets---he practically started the whole thing. Have fun, please SUBSCRIBE, and keep rockin' 2 country!!
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#JohnnyHorton #TheBattleOfNewOrleans #CountryMusicReactions

[@BigAlGoodwin]

"Johnny Reb", "Sink the Bismark", "Sugar Coated Baby", "Hole in My Pirogue"......there are no bad Johnny Horton tunes.

[@glasswhisperer]

One of the greatest ballad singers ever.

[@dkmcbigsley]

Johnny Reb is greatness

[@dkmcbigsley]

These songs are about historical events (loosely interpreted). It has to know a bit of the history....

[@kevineakman8586]

Electrified donkey!! Really!! Please!

[@nonieholliman5486]

LOVE JOHNNY HORTON. AWESOME SINGER!

[@HonkyTonkHellraiser]

Johnny was best friends with Johnny Cash. He ( Horton ) might just be the most underrated, under appreciated country star ever. So many great, memorable hits. I grew up with his music. Still listen to him on a weekly basis

[@lynnecook3914]

Agreed! I love Horton

[@nonieholliman5486]

Amen! agreeded love all his music. Like Johnny Freedom all his songs. Love him.

[@rockinmosquito]

Get Johnny Horton into the Country, Rock, and Folk Hall of Fames.

[@St99785]

Johnny was born in LA, but grew up in East Texas. He didn't get his due as "The Singing Fisherman" until his time in Shreveport, Louisiana, which is where he's also buried in the present day. My best friend's grandfather, Tillman Franks, played bass for him. Mr. Franks was really the creative mind in the band when it came to arrangement, song writing, and at times, lyrics as well. He wrote North to Alaska and Sink the Bismarck, which were both top 10 hits. I think he wrote a few others. Johnny had one of the greatest voices i've ever heard, though. The ladies liked him, too.

[@knitswithhorses2285]

This is one of those songs that my family would sing at the top of our lungs on road trips. I know this word for word to this day. Lol

[@beegee1960]

This song was # 1 on the country chart for ten weeks and #1on the pop chart for six weeks. A real crossover hit.

[@myaccount2825]

I'm a homeschool mom and love teaching my kids. Our favorite subject is American History. My 10 year old and I were reading about the "War of 1812". This song is about one of the battles of that 2 year long war between the Americana and the British. Andrew Jackson was the General for the American side here. Actually, in this war, we learned that neither the Americans or the British won because the Americans won the battles on the water (Navy) and the British won the battles on land. There was a peace treaty signed back in Britain and they hadn't gotten the news about this for a few weeks. In this battle, New Orleans, 2000 British troops out of 10,000 were killed in a very short period of time - by the Americans who were mostly all backwoods hunters! They all were such good shots because they could shoot a squirrel out of a tree at 100 yards, so the British in their bright red coats were very easy targets. This is a very interesting story on why the battle happened. I highly recommend Master Books curriculum for learning the story of our country's history. ❤️❤️

[@bobbyecrockett1710]

Watching this again as I remember my late brother’s birthday. Miss him so. He was a Viet Nam vet and died from suicide as result of PTSS from war. This was his favorite song when he was a little kid. He sang it all the time. Thanks for sharing the video.💙🙏🏼🥲

[@SnowEfaust]

Love love love---- thank you!!!!??

[@markcainyourfriendinthecar3387]

Johnny Horton was great. His songs were fun but you could also get a little history lesson. Check out Sink the Bismarck by him.

[@sethking1573]

You need to do "Comanche" its one of his best song.

[@dkmcbigsley]

Yep.

[@pdogone1]

damn i love reading about that battle...she had many wounds but she was nursed back to health and i guess kept on the army rolls? belonged to Miles Keogh who fell surrounded by the yelllow stripes as warrior called them..it appears Keogh was wounded in the leg and had to dismount Comanche and his troopers ralled around him until they were all killed..can only imagine what they were experiencing knowing they were doomed...

[@jeaneskridge8075]

I agree. A tribute to a survivor of that war.

[@kimberlyhannah17]

I cry hearing this as I remember my father. He used to sing this song to me when I was a little girl.

[@tommyward7471]

Love this song but my favorite of his is Johnny Reb. I also love the Bismarck

[@joebauers8031]

Tommy Ward Johnny Reb’ll bring a tear to your eye...

[@tommyward7471]

@@joebauers8031 yes it doesn't, especially when he tells about honest Abe's reaction to the surrender of the war

[@CamoCowboy889]

Give his Johnny Reb a shot too, it's one of my favorites by him.

[@lynnecook3914]

One of my dad's favorite songs

[@paigeking2605]

He was a history teacher and wrote them to teach with, that’s why his songs are so patriotic ☺️ as a matter of fact MY history teacher was impressed I knew everyone of his song because my mother raised me on music for the soul!! ❤️

[@lindarichards3195]

Wrong. The history teacher who wrote this song was named Jimmie Driftwood.

[@tritchie6272]

I've always likes this song.

[@CarterCountyCruisers]

Because this record sold so well, Columbia records gave Johnny one of their top of the line Columbia Masterworks stereo consoles. At the time (1959) it retailed for $1700. Adjusted to today's prices that would be $13,000. The stereo was in a museum in Louisiana until that museum closed. Then it was offered on Craigs List for $250 in non operational condition. A rockabilly/country/honkytonk musician and historian I know named Deke Dickerson was the one who ended up with it. He's been slowly getting it back in working order.

[@Rocker1983]

That's a cool story. Thanks for sharing.

[@flomurdock]

Yep, Deke would be just the one to do it.

[@CarterCountyCruisers]

@@flomurdock There's actually a video on KZbin that shows some of his collection including the stereo. If you're interested search for - Deke's Antiques Featuring Deke Dickerson , it's on a KZbin channel called The Wrecking Yard

[@craighadley1228]

I used to use this song when I taught The War is 1812. Historical Songs always give the kids a hook. Used The Battle of the Alamo by Marty Robbins also. It helped them remember the historical figures. These were 5th graders.

[@RockN2Country]

@Craig Hadley I could have used a teacher like you when I was growing up!! I paid no attention to history and am still playing catch-up ball on parts of it. BTW, welcome to the channel!

[@tsmith2736]

A lot of Jimmy Driftwood’s (the songwriter) songs were too long for radio play because he wrote them for his history students. Apparently his catalog of 6000 is down in Arkansas.

[@dobrobob]

Great tune....one of them songs that doesn’t get old

[@StevenEverett7]

Thanks for this reaction. You can pick almost any song by Johnny and not go wrong. Most all of his songs have a touch of humor to them (grabbed an alligator and fought another round). A quite touching song he sang was Comnanche. The song of the sole survivor of Custers last stand. Best regards, Steve

[@RockN2Country]

@Steve Everett Good stuff right there--thanks for posting. I love it when the artists find a way to inject humor into a song when they can pull it off. Jerry Reed is one who comes to mind, but his songs were frequently meant to be funny and it came naturally to him.

[@gordonduke8812]

Hi Don, thanks for the reaction. My favorite Johnny Horton song. For another historic type song, try "The Ballad of the Alamo" by Marty Robbins. A very good representation. Enjoy. Peace brother.

[@jameskuntz1326]

Jimmy Driftwood wrote this song as a way to make history appealing to young people. This song was written in 1936 while he was teaching high school. As is often the case, the songwriter gets forgotten and the performers become famous. I appreciate the songwriter because it is there brilliance and soul that create the song. Johnny Horton was a great performer.

[@sueg3650]

I believe I heard he was a history teacher, and used this song to teach this battle.

[@micheled6111]

Whispering pines is a beautiful ballad.

[@jbs2763]

As a history nerd I’ve always liked this one despite inaccuracies lol

[@Monty_BeGoodToEachOther]

It was a real pleasure watching your face light up as your caught different aspects of this song. This was my favorite song when I was young ... I also had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Driftwood. He wrote The Battle of New Orleans (1936) "to help a high school class become interested in the event."

[@mandyheldenbrand2783]

Absolutely love this song and the fact that this song was from 21 years before i was born. Growing up with all these old classic country songs. I love them compared to the more recent stuff.

[@brendaisajiw3417]

Enjoyed it tremendously! Thank you for the reaction, Don. That looked like it was on the Dick Clark American Bandstand. I think I saw Dick Clark right at the beginning👍💖. My last name is pronounced Esaw. Everybody gets it wrong. It sounds nothing like it's spelled. No problem!😄

[@JohnnyHawkins-mt9rc]

I have all his music a lot of cd's and record's !

[@TheCrash212]

Great song and memories. I was a kid when this song came out. I liked it then and still like it today.

[@joebauers8031]

My 5 x gr grandfather was there! With the 1st Tennessee Volunteers, Mounted Artillery. under Gen. Coffee and Jackson. He was literally one of the men that fired the first shots as the British came up out of the swamp! Sent em back through the “briars brambles and the bushes” Love this song. If you’re ever in New Orleans, go check out the battlefield. It’s really cool!

[@johntucker4296]

Johnnie Freedom!

[@spectreactual6884]

I'm 26, I was raised on Horton. One of the best

[@martindelong7413]

johnny horton 1925 to 1960 had several hit songs mostly about historical events some love songs he made 1 song that i know for the john wayne movie north to alaska he spent time in alaska working on fishing boats then returned to texas and found his nitch in music honkytonk man, sameold tale the crow told me and old slew foot were on the funny side one woman man and im ready and im willing and i got a hole in myperoge where more on the love side . i grew up listining to his music even though he died when i was 3. all great listining.

[@sharonburcham25]

My daddy taught me this song when I was like 4-5 years old!! Hahaha wow what a great memory! Thank you man! ❤️Tennessee

[@jscountrygirl85_326]

I have both of my dads to thank for introducing me to Johnny Horton when I was little. I remember getting a kick out of the humor in this song back then, and today it still makes me smile from beginning to end. :) Love most all of his other songs, too. If you want to hear one of his more serious songs, check out "Whispering Pines." Another one of my favorites. :)

[@reddhead2948]

This is my fav Horton song

[@RandyforRoyals]

That was a wonderful reaction and almost any Johnny Horton song is a treat. Horton was born in Los Angeles but grew up in East Texas. He is also an artist who is hard to classify. He has some rockabilly elements, some traditional country and is known for his historical story songs. I would recommend "When It's Springtime In Alaska" or "Ole Slewfoot" as your next Johnny Horton reactions.

[@TheBuck1283]

Done in the late 50's.

[@billssmithy7352]

Read about the Battle of New Orleans. It was the last battle of the War of 1812, and it happened about 2 weeks after the War was officially over.

[@mrtoad8585]

No alligators were injured in the making of this review

[@RockN2Country]

@Mr Toad LOL!!

[@pamx3692]

Great review !! I am here a lot, I just dont say much. I would love for you to do "Sink "The Bizmark"by Johnny Horton. Thank you so much...keep em coming!

[@TheGoauldApophis]

I love the mental image of the gator-cannon!

[@CanadianPunker62]

"I'm a One Woman Man" "Honkey Tonk Man" great stuff!

[@krisfujimoto72]

Fabulous work!

[@bartschwartz7217]

Jimmy dean- big bad John. Great coal miner song

[@kevinswinyer3176]

Battle of New Orleans came out in 1959, and was not only one of Johnny's biggest hits, but also one of the last songs ever released before his untimely death, which was the result of a head on collision with a drunk driver as they were crossing a Bridge in East Texas. Johnny was on his way back to Louisiana for another Louisiana Hayride. Another insteresting fact about Johnny Horton was his ability to predict his future about 10 days prior to his Death. He had felt a preminition that he would soon be losing his life to a drunk driver. He felt so strongly about it that he actually gave his most favorite guitar away to a fellow Musician just days before his death, and when his Musician Friend asked Johnny why he was giving him his favorite guitar, Johnny told his Friend that he knew that he was going to die soon at the hands of a drunk driver in a car wreck, and sure enough, a few days later Johnny would be involved in a head on crash with a drunk driver, and would die on the way to the hospital.

[@TheBuck1283]

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did two different covers of this song. Amazing that anyone has not heard it!

[@sandralorenz1796]

This was on American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark.

[@SharonBaxter12]

Did you notice, Dick Clark in the fringe jacket ? Johnny was on American Bandstand.

[@fastingbastard]

Now do “Sink The Bismarck” by Johnny Horton 👍

[@terryduncan31]

Whispering Pines and All For The Love of a Girl are probably my favorites from him.

[@warrenburlingame7087]

You my friend have found a gold mine. Always loved Johnny Horton. Like you he was gone before I was born

[@joebauers8031]

I think Tyler Childers has a lot of Johnny Horton in him.

[@that1mamalady]

He wrote songs that are true history. It's amazing

[@nonieholliman5486]

He was in a wreck in Milano, Texas, he hit a drink driver.

[@wolfmccray3547]

Hey Don, These older songs are really good!! Love Johnny's story telling and history recounting ability.... So interesting! However, His vocal ability might be overlooked. The octave changes and the emotion and heart he put into his music!! Great artist!! Thanks again for another great job sir!! KEEP RN2C BROTHER!!

[@RockN2Country]

@Lone Wolf 63 Good catch on the vocal ability Johnny had. Maybe the old-time appearance in the video would distract us folks in 2020 from picking up on that, but it's worth noting. One of the beautiful things about the internet and KZbin is that these older artists are being resurrected through their music. I have been astounded at how many kids in their teens and twenties know the Allman Brothers' and Led Zeppelin's music, for instance. And being able to bring back these older country artists and their songs is such a treat.

[@wolfmccray3547]

@@RockN2Country I agree 💯!! Keep up the great work and KEEP RN2C BROTHER!!!

[@hunteryoungblood649]

Check out 16 tons by tennesse ernie ford

[@warrenburlingame7087]

Johnny actually predicted how he would die. He gave Mel Kilgore his harring bone guitar. Saying that he would be killed by a drunk driver just weeks before he passed

[@wandareed2452]

Hey I heard he committed suicide

[@kevinswinyer3176]

​@@wandareed2452no, he predicted that he would soon die in a car wreck, caused by a drunk driver. He was on his way back to Louisiana for the Louisiana Hayride, and was crossing a bridge in Milano, Texas when he was hit head on by a drunk driver. Johnny Horton passed away on the way to the hospital. He had given away his favorite guitar to Merle Kilgore not long before his death, because he knew he was soon going to die.

[@stinkbug4321]

The were parts of the song that were actually taken from the Revolutionary war. During the battle of Breed's Hill. The colonists were short on ammunition. The commanders did not want to waste any bullets, so it was said, "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Using squirrel guns as weapons was during the Revolutionary war. It is all the colonists had. They had no war weapons, as far as the Americans winning. It was sort of a draw. After four years of fighting with neither side making any major victories both sides decided to stop fighting.

[@bwilliams463]

It'd be fun to see you react to Horton's 'Jim Bridger,' a song with great instrumentalism about a forgotten American pioneer hero.

[@joebauers8031]

You gotta do Johnny Reb by Johnny Horton next! That one’ll bring a tear to the eye of any good southerner...

[@lindanicholson950]

This song was also a crossover. Everybody liked it. Looks like a clip from American Bandstand.

[@flomurdock]

I was wondering if anyone was going to pick up on that. But it's not Bandstand, it's the Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech Nut show. When they all look like cows chewing their cud, that's the tip off. It's really interesting they went to the trouble to create what today would be a video for this performance. Very innovative and enjoyable.

[@lindanicholson950]

@@flomurdock I never heard of that show. Just barely saw Dick Clark running past. I noticed the chewing.

[@calebpepper3834]

He also did one about John Paul Jones.

[@kpri9061]

The thing about Johnny Horton is that his songs focus on Americana spirit.

[@lynnecook3914]

Can't go wrong with any of Horton's songs. My 17 year old son loves Ole Slew Foot. My 18 year old daughter loves All Grown Up

[@Teresia12]

My big brother used to sing this to our baby sisters. He was 19 when Lisa was born and 22 when Lori was born. I am probably older than this song. I love all things Johnny Horton, especially this one that reminds me of all those good times.

[@tye8876]

Many today are not familiar with the Battle of New Orleans but the Brittish had more than 10,000 men. Jackson only had around 4000. The Britts suffered more than 2000 casualties. The US, only 71.

[@johnmcclurg3325]

Man I didn’t see anybody say anything about Whispering Pines another excellent song

[@MegaHorsewoman]

I ask for that song when he did North to Alaska... Whispering Pines is one of my all time favorite songs

[@pattyyoung2103]

You do a lot of artists no one else even listens to . thank you

[@RockN2Country]

@Patty Young You're welcome! Thank you for the acknowledgement and encouragement, and welcome to the channel!

[@St99785]

The Battle of New Orleans was the greatest American military victory at that point, and perhaps of all time. The British Empire had the world's best trained fighting men, and the Yanks were just a ragtag group of farmers, freed slaves, Indians, and other outlaws when this battle was fought in January 1815. The Yanks got lucky when an Irishman from County Meath failed to arrive at the front lines with the needed ladders to climb the Yankee fortifications, and it resulted in the Americans to score one of the most decisive victories of all time against a well drilled and trained British fighting men. But their bravery was also kind of their downfall in this instance, as they refused to break ranks even when the situation became a hopeless turkey shoot, and continued to file down the line to their inevitable slaughter far longer than a group that prioritised their own lives ahead of that of doing their soldier's duty. Among the dead were the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington, who is one of the great British Prime Ministers, and most famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

[@RockN2Country]

@Trae Richthofen Great stuff right there-thank you for that insight and history lesson! And welcome aboard the channel!

[@joeallen6396]

Thought you might like to know who the guy was when the video came on . That was Dick Clark and Johnny was a guest on his American Band Stand show When it aired from Philadelphia back in late fifties and early sixties. Johnny was a member of the Louisiana Hay Ride out of Shreveport back in the early fifties after Hank Williams died . He married Hanks second wife. Hank was a member of the Hay Ride until 1949 when He went to Nashville to join the Opry . Hank went back to the Hay Ride after he was fired from the Opry . Not sure if Johnny ever preformed at the Opry might have died before he got invited.

[@wendyryder2708]

Hi from Down Under! I’ve just subscribed to your channel! Just found you! Thank you SO much for reacting to this song! It’s one of my favourites! Have you reacted to Sink the Bismarck? It’s an awesome one as well! Stay safe! Greetings from Australia!

[@RockN2Country]

@Wendy Ryder Welcome aboard the channel!! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I just added your suggestion to the list, but please be patient with me since the list is kinda long. But I'll get to it unless it's blocked. Thanks again!

[@mikerobertson4041]

Great story song about the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 when Andrew Jackson (Ole Hickory) became a national hero!

[@439tab]

An Arkansas school teacher wrote this song to teach his glass about the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

[@cgmason7568]

He was born in LA but raised in Texas

[@MamaBe1963]

We learned a lot of history through his songs.

[@kimmelton3697]

Battle of new Orleans us lost 13 with 30 wounded. British lost 285 with 1265 wounded. We did more than win that one. Perhaps it's why it's one of the few upbeat battle ballads.

[@FlyingTooFast]

I though when he meant “wasn’t quite as many as there was a while ago” Was in reference to the revolutionary war

[@kiracattan4624]

I loved the part about loading up the gator with canon balls and did the gunpowder on the butt. Yep, dont mess with the Gators near Louisianna.

[@ricashbringer9866]

The Battle of New Orleans took place in 1815. I took this bit from Wikipedia, "Despite a large British advantage in numbers, training, and experience, the American forces defeated a poorly executed assault in slightly more than 30 minutes. The Americans suffered just 71 casualties, while the British suffered over 2,000, including the deaths of the commanding general, Major General Sir Edward Pakenham, and his second-in-command, Major General Samuel Gibbs."

[@saragodres-tomes1032]

❤😂❤ Only song I'll concede to sing if dragged to karaoke!

[@kevinswinyer3176]

Another really great song that you need to rate would be Johnny Freedom, also from Johnny Horton.

[@micheledash7269]

Old Jim Bridger is a good one too

[@johnmcclurg3325]

Don would you believe Johnny went to the guy who wrote and originally sang that song and asked him if he could record it and that guy was Jimmy Driftwood. Now you should look up jimmy Driftwood he had some awesome songs check him out Don I think you will like him 👍on the video Johnny Horton did a good job on the song

[@RockN2Country]

@John Mcclurg Thanks for the heads up. I'm on it, but give me a little time since I've got quite a list. This is a lot of fun, I must say!

[@tsmith2736]

Sorting out which one to react to could be kinda tough. The Tennessee Stud was probably covered the most, although everyone shortened it. KZbin has Froggy Went a Courting where he chides the ‘60s folkies for being too lazy to do it right. Then there’s some pretty raucous ones for the times like Ozark Bill or You Got To Quit Kickin My Dog Around. Lots of historical one like Mooshatanio and Rock of Chickamauga. He was willing to put himself out there on civil rights too, He Had A Long Chain On or What Is the Color of the Soul of a Man. The Horsetrader's Song Is my favorite because my great- grandfather was a horse trader down in Jimmie’s neck of the woods. “JIMMY DRIFTWOOD playing on his famous homemade guitar“ is a nice short introduction to him.

[@MrJeffreywhp]

Johnny Horton sink the bismark

[@TheBuck1283]

NOT Los Angeles! Shreveport, La.!

[@beegee1960]

If I am not mistaken, this song was #1 for something like 16 weeks.

[@daledubose3032]

Love this song. Haven't listen yet but I know it's going to be good.

[@heff5452]

Sink the Bismark is a great one

[@beegee1960]

Your next one needs to be Sink the Bismarck, a World War II tale about a German battleship who was giving the British Navy fits.

[@danedunford7250]

Sad that they still didn't put him in the country music hall of fame

[@normawilliams4101]

Thank you

[@glasswhisperer]

The Arrogant Worms did a rework of that song from the Canadian perspective, it's awesome too

[@thecowboy509]

Reaction to Johnny cash flesh and blood fantastic song

[@mariedelima9947]

Don you have to listen to the old country music. Hey died in a car crash on rout 79 in Texas Country music is the best till 1969 after that it is no class You enjoy that type of music was the best all the people were very United then. Especially Country.

[@rickyking1790]

He's singing about the war of 1812 yet he's wearing a civil war cap! LOL

[@davidbryant276]

There's a British version of this song too.

[@johncichon4986]

He also did a version for British release

[@mrtoad8585]

Johnny Horton actually changed the lyrics to this song while touring Great Britain at the request of the queen its interesting to hear it from the British perspective

[@St99785]

The Brits hate this song with a passion. Unless it's Lonnie Donegan performing it :-P

[@mrtoad8585]

@@St99785 See that’s the interesting part was the queen requested him to change the lyrics and he did but I get it