Battle of New Orleans ::: Lonnie Donegan and Lyrics

The Battle of New Orleans, singer Lonnie Donegan in 1959, is a light hearted view of the brave defence of New Orleans in 1815 led by Andrew Jackson against the British Army.

The Battle of New Orleans was a prolonged battle which took place around New Orleans, Louisiana from December 23, 1814 to January 26, 1815, and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory America had acquired with the Louisiana Purchase.

Battle of January 8

Within minutes, the American 7th Infantry arrived, moved forward, and fired upon the British in the captured redoubt: within half an hour, Rennie and most of his men were dead. In the main attack on the right, the British infantrymen either flung themselves to the ground, huddled in the canal, or were mowed down by a combination of musket fire and grapeshot from the Americans. A handful made it to the top of the parapet on the right but were either killed or captured. The 95th Rifles had advanced in open skirmish order ahead of the main assault force and were concealed in the ditch below the parapet, unable to advance further without support.
The two large main assaults on the American position were repulsed. Pakenham and his second-in-command, General Gibbs, were fatally wounded, while on horseback, by grapeshot fired from the earthworks. With most of the senior officers dead and wounded most of the British soldiers, with no orders to advance further or retreat, stood out in the open and were shot apart with grapeshot from Line Jackson. After about 20 more minutes of bloodletting, General Lambert assumed command and eventually ordered a withdrawal.




Lonnies Lyrics

(spoken: ) Well, this heres the story of the Battle of New Orleans,
which was fit between the errr ... Yankees ocorst and the English people,
in which the British came off rather ignominiously means they never done no good no how alright shuddup right




WELL in 1814, we took a little trip,
along with Colonel Packenham down the mighty Mississipp.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans,
and we fought the bloomin British in the town of New Orleans

Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexicoooo, yeh

Weeell, we looked down the river till we see the British come,
there must have been a hundred of 'em beatin' on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring,
well, we stood beside our cotton bales and never sayed a thing.

Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
and there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
ederum a ohderum a ederum a ohderum

Well, Packenham said we could take em by surprise,
if we didn't fire a musket till we looked `em in the eyes.
Well, we stood quite still till we see their faces well,
then we opened up our muskets and we really gave em ..

Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
and there wasn't nigh as many as there was a - - - -
and we fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Weeeeell, they rrraan through the briars and they ran through the brambles,
and they ran through the bushes where the rabbits couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em,
all down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexicooooh ah ha tiddly dee
Well, we fired our muskets so the barrels melted down,
then grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
Well, we stuffed his head with cannon balls and powdered his behind,
so when we touched the powder off, the 'gator lost his mind.

Chorus
Well, we fired our guns and the British kept a comin',
there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began a running,
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lonnie Donegan
• Battle of New Orleans
• 1815
• Pakenham
• General Lambert
• Andrew Jackson
• Rennie
• Louisiana
• British Army
• Mississippi
• Gulf of Mexico
• we fired our guns
• British kept a running

[foucault1020]

Riki- you rock. I never knew you did this. BRIL. Thanks. I am so OCD on this & never knew it was you. Shoulda figured.

[Rikkyhardo]

@foucault1020 Yeh ... this was the sorta stuff playing when I was young, and I loved it so I had to try and do it grace by adding a few pics. Thanks very much for the praise mate.

There are 2 more Lonnie Donegan's I've tried to interpret, Tom Dooley and Go tell aunt rhody which should give you a laugh

[Aukmune]

There are so many versions of this song, Jimmie Driftwood wrote the original lyrics for his history students in 1959 and it won a Grammy the following year , Johnny Horton recorded it '59 and also won a Grammy for best CW performance.

I have listened to Johnny Cash , Lonnie and the NittyGritty Band all perform their own versions and each one brings something different to the song.

As a 57 yr old Brit I am most familiar with Lonnie Ds recording having heard it on the radio when I was a lad.

[Rikkyhardo]

@Aukmune Thanks for the extra info mate ... Lonnie used to be king in them days

[Rikkyhardo]

Whatever the ins and outs of the song I think Lonnie's version of this tune is freeking ace and I loved it when I was young and it still gives us a thrill when I hear it now

[lindygee]

I guess I don't get it. If the song is from the British view by coming down with Packenham, then why is it saying that they fought the British instead of the Yanks or Americans or whatever?

[Circumpunk]

This is a very intresting rendition of this song. I was familiar with the Johnny Horton version but never heard of Lonnie Donegan before you sent this. I have enjoyed it immensely! Thank you kind Sir!

Oh, the battle was waged after the Treaty of Ghent declared the war over, ha ha ha . Our communications have only slightly improved since then ; )

[baildude12]

2 people are british aligators

[foucault1020]

@Rikkyhardo I'm on it! Hey- I liked the stuff back in the day. But for me- you make it more better. Very very subtle nuances. I first found u by serendipity- Waltzing Matilda in an Aussi tribute to its Iraqi warriers. Fingers crossed for go tell Aunt Rody. PC's crash, they want us all in The Cloud, SOPS compliant, keeping our legs crossed, hi def & plasma screens.

[foucault1020]

@nitwit2008. You stole my sn dued ;D. Yes- for some reason Lonnie put in "Peckenham". But thanks for the strategy & tactics of history. IDK.

[Donttouchtheswitch]

This is really good.

[nitwit2008]

@foucault1020

A bit of history - British fought southern rebels mainly not Yengese.

Also rebels leader was Jackson NOT Packenham who was the British leader

Lost John

[sonjainge69]

@lindygeebut you are right. lonnie's lyrics should say "with jackson" and not "colonel pakenham". jackson was the american general, pakenham the english. in the british version it does say correctly "we took a little trip with pakenham" and "we fought the bloody rebels"...nice catch!

[sonjainge69]

@lindygee

this is from the view of the u.s.. the war of 1812 was already ended(treaty of ghent signed on dec. 24. 1814) but it did not reach the combatants until february 1815. this battle is considered by many the biggest lans victory of the americans over the british.

[lillyyxox]

LEGEND!!!!!!!!!<3 i love him