John Johnson (singer)

John Johnson lived from 1865-1941(acc. his grandson’s family tree; ’43 in Songs & Southern Breezes probably therefore a typo). He was born in London but in 1874 he went to Fittleworth in Sussex to start work on the farm. His working life on the farm was with the shire horses (had charge of 28). Later he married a local girl Harriet, and lived there the rest of his life. He learned the traditional songs that were remembered and sung locally. He sang eg in the Swan Inn in Fittleworth. At some point unknown (maybe 1930-40? Some music hall songs might give a date after which), John wrote down the words of his songs as he sang them in an exercise book.

Taking John Johnson’s songbook (West Sussex) together with shepherd Michael Blann’s (mid Sussex) and the Copper family’s (East Sussex) gives us a remarkable resource of “self-collected”(!!!) songs out of mainly oral tradition by Sussex singers.

In about 1954 Bob Copper was allowed by Gladys Stone who then held her father’s book, to copy down and publish some of the songs, in ‘Songs and Southern Breezes’. Bob only published the ones for which John’s family and friend could remember the tunes, because he was doing work for the BBC which was about voice recordings. Bob recorded three of John’s children Leslie Johnson (who worked as a gardener), Gladys Stone and John Johnson, and an old friend of John’s, William Sebbage, singing them.

• Like a Fine Old English Gentleman I'll sing you a good old song
• Alonzo the Brave Now Alonzo the Brave and Fair Emogene
• Poison in a glass of wine In Oxford city it was reported
• Her Servant Man / The Banks of Shannon It's of a young damsel both fair and handsome
• The Happiest of Men Some men who courting like to stand
• The Steam Tongue I'll sing of a lady a pretty one too
• Ground for the floor I lived in the woods for great numbers of years
• Down by the green bushes Was early one morning I chanced for to stray
• Inside the workhouse door Twas bitter cold one winter's night
• The Cook's Choice What a pity it is to teaze me
• Silver Threads among the Gold Darling I am growing old
• Does your Heart beat true to me Does your heart beat true to me my love
• Blow the winds I Oh / Ten thousand miles away Sing Oh for a brave and a valiant Barque
• My dark eyed sailor It's of a comely young lady fair
• Off to Epsom races When I was young and in my prime
• To hear the Nightingales sing As I was a walking one morning in May
• My bonny Yorkshire lass Kind friends I've come before you now
• A poor lonely widow If you'll give attention the truth I will mention
• The green mossy banks of the Lea When first in this country a stranger
• The Banks of Envery Early one summers morning along as I did pass
• The Banks of Sweet Dundee It's of a farmer's daughter so beautiful I'm told
• The Banks of Sweet Primroses As I walked out one midsummer morning
• Love / Different Kinds of Love Down in the valley the first of May
• As Broad as I was Walking / A modest maid As broad as I was walking down in a shady grove
• A city swell A twopenny bus each morning I ride
• Johnny Sands Now Betty Miles and Johnny Sands were married hand in hand
• Go and leave me never mind Once I loved with fond affection
• Three cheers for the Red White and Blue O Brittania the pride of the ocean
• Buttercup Joe Now I be a true bred country chap
• Raphaerty's fancy ball Now Michael Raphaerty gave a party
• The horse the Missus dried her clothes on I wanted to join the Yeomanry
• The skipper and his boy The sea run high and the wind was wild
• A Fair Damsel in London It's of a fair damsel in London did dwell
• Poaching Oh I was bound apprentice in famed Northamptonshire
• On Clodde Banks Early one summers morning all in the month of May
• The Squire's lost Lady As a sailor was walking one fine summer day
• A man that's done wrong to his parents I'm a man thats in trouble and sorrow
• Oh Willie we have missed you Oh Willie is it you dear safe safe at home
• The old rustic bridge I've been thinking tonight of the old rustic bridge
• The Female Smuggler Come list a while and you soon shall hear
• The Little Cobbler A story a story to you I will tell
• Dearest Phoebe We've met dearest Phoebe
• Mary at the garden gate The day was spent the moon shone bright
• Bluebells I've gathered One day I saw two lovers in a garden
• Kilicrankie Years ago I used to be as smart a chap as you could see
• Watching Before a lonely cottage once where grew those Flower'ettes gay
• The Farmers Boy The sun's gone down o'er yonder hill
• The Ship that Never Returned On a bright sunny day when the waves was rippled
• Learn to use your hands I knew a lad whose father's rich Sir
• Rolling in the Dew O where are you going my sweet and pretty fair maid
• One guinea for a bottle As I was a going down Wapping
• Swinging down the lane How oft we talk of childish joys