Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/20/2025:  16:25:04

Another familiar tune (with two distinct themes and lyric sets), but not that frequently played on the banjo, especially the 5-string. That's likely because it's in 6/8, a time signature not beloved of 5-string players. So I'm not surprised it hasn't been a TOTW, although it certainly fits nicely on the banjo. 

In skimming through the internet (mostly Wikipedia) I learned that the tune likely was floating around when lyricist Patrick Gilmore glommed onto it and added the lyrics in 1863. It seems it was the tune for a drinking song, "Johnny Fill Up the Bowl," which also likely borrowed it from one or more sources. "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye," the Irish song that became a. popular anti-war song in the 1960s seems to have followed 

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home" by a few years, contrary to the common misconception about origin dates that I previously shared with many others. The full details are on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Joh...hing_Home

Hangout archived discussion:

banjohangout.org/archive/352701

Some links gleaned from YouTube. None really close to ideal. I tried to avoid flatpicked versions. Players tend to want to play it in 2/4 and 4/4, not in its native 6/8. 

youtube.com/watch?v=Viwv3ftrvM0

youtube.com/watch?v=73sKvuoNX2s

youtube.com/watch?v=6KfRKLuwkq8

youtube.com/watch?v=AaFP4Dju7TM

youtube.com/watch?v=td8yU0qfyRM

youtube.com/watch?v=P6N-CXrMTT4

youtube.com/watch?v=iFyvxxsm7RQ

JanetB - Posted - 06/21/2025:  14:24:02

A fun little challenge, Bill.  When you mentioned the 6/8 timing I wasn't convinced and so tried to tab my arrangement in 4/4 time, and sure enough, it didn't work, but the 6/8 time does.  Your links show lots of different ways to perform the song.  I liked best the second one with Lianna Brice accompanying her singing with banjo rolls.  

Mine is chordally played and is the only one so far that utilizes the chords within the first two frets.  The video shows that only a finger or two is needed to be lifted or placed down to play.  The right hand plays plucks and single strings.  The melody notes were consulted from an on-line source with the 1863 sheet music of Louis Lambert (see below) to check if my memory of the song was pretty close, which caused me to change a couple of notes to match it. The key signature shows two flats for the key of Gm, though I play it one step higher in Am and use open G tuning.

VIDEO: When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again (TOTW)
(click to view)

When Johnny Comes Marching Home tab

Louis Lambert sheet music

 

Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/21/2025:  18:48:35

Nicely done, Janet! I like your playing better than any I found on the net.

@JanetB