“Whiskey Johnny”

Description

Shanty. Characteristic line: "Whiskey, Johnny, / Whiskey for me Johnny." The song details the sailor's love affair with whiskey: "Whiskey is the life of man / It always was since the world began...." "Whiskey killed my dear old dad..."

Notes

Hugill specifies four versions of this, each with a distinct story line though all using the same refrain: a) The advantages & disadvantages of drinking; b) the Shanghaiing version; c) The limejuice skipper; and d) the Crab, Crayfish or Lobster version (i.e. "The Sea Crab"). Harlow cites yet another version, of a barber and a lady who are trying to impress one another and who eventually do get together despite the barber's drunkenness. - SL

Cross references

• cf. "Rise Me Up from Down Below" (chorus, theme)
• cf. "Supen Ut, En Dram Pa Man" (similar theme)

Recordings

• Bob Roberts, "Whisky Johnny" (on LastDays)
• Minster Singers, "Whiskey Johnny" (Victor 61147, n.d., prob. c. 1903)
• Capt. Leighton Robinson w. Alex Barr, Arthur Brodeur & Leighton McKenzie, "Whiskey Johnny" (AFS 4232 B1, 1939; on LC27 as "Whisky Johnny"; in AMMEM/Cowell)

References

1. Doerflinger, pp. 15-16, "Whiskey Johnny" (3 texts, 1 tune)
2. Bone, p. 82-83, "Whis-key John-nie" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Colcord, pp. 49-50, "Whiskey Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Harlow, pp. 21, 63-66 "Whiskey" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
5. Hugill, pp. 274-280, "Whisky Johnny" (4 texts & several fragments, 1 tune) [AbEd, pp. 202-206]
6. Sharp-EFC, XLVIII, p. 53, "Whiskey For My Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Linscott, pp. 151-152, "Whisky Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Shay-SeaSongs, p. 55, "Whiskey for My Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Sandburg, p. 403, "Whiskey Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Smith/Hatt, p. 30, "Whiskey For My Johnnie" (1 text)
11. Mackenzie 106, "Whisky Johnny" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
12. Darling-NAS, pp. 311-312, "Whiskey Johnny" (1 text)
13. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 486-487, "Whisky Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
14. Silber-FSWB, p. 231, "Whiskey Johnny" (1 text)
15. DT, WHSKJHN* WHISKJON*
16. ADDITIONAL: Captain John Robinson, "Songs of the Chantey Man," a series published July-August 1917 in the periodical _The Bellman_ (Minneapolis, MN, 1906-1919). "Whisky for My Johnny" is in Part 3, 7/28/1917.
17. Roud #651
18. BI, Doe015