Johnnie

Story Behind The Song

The year was 1981, and inspired by a new guitar I'd purchased, I came up with this picking pattern and counter rhythm which I presented to the band. Dan Boddicker, one of the lead singers of our band at the time, immediately started writing lyrics while the rest of us jammed on the idea I'd come up with the night before. It fell together rather quickly as I recall, and we had a brand-new song! Our band at the time, "Ratler" eventually did a demo recording of the song and we played it hundreds of times over the course of our time together. I always wished we'd taken the song further, so that's why I decided to include it in this project.

Song Description

Johnnie learns to fight and kill others for the cause, but in the end as he meets his death, he realizes that the real enemy was within his own heart.

Song Length 5:19 Genre Country - Rock, Rock - Easy Listening
Tempo Medium (111 - 130) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood Poignant, Moving Subject War, Violence
Similar Artists Johnny Cash, The Eagles Language English
Era 1800 - 1899

Lyrics

"JOHNNIE"
Daniel J. Boddicker, Kevin Simnacher/©2011 SimRocker Publishing (BMI) All rights reserved.

The soldiers in blue run to the attack
knowing that they might not ever come back
and the Ice Man laughs as Winter is drawing near.

The soldiers in gray run into the fray
trying to drive the blue soldiers away
and the Ice Man laughs as he begins his attack on the rear.

The dying died and the wounded cried
and everyone else got tired of the fight
which all turned towards the Ice Man's lines.

Johnnie left home when just a young man
but when he came home he was an old hand
at fighting and killing and maiming his fellow man.

Searching, he's been searching so long--hoping for a place where he can run
Searching, he's been searching so long--trying to find a place to hang his gun.

Summer finally came but the killing went on
no matter what he did Johnnie couldn't get warm
it felt like the cold was just tearing him apart.

The day that Johnnie met his death
he realized with his final breath
that the Ice Man was only the hatred in his heart.

Searching, he's been searching so long--hoping for a place where he can run
Searching, he's been searching so long--trying to find a place to hang his gun.

Lyrics Daniel Joseph Boddicker Music Kevin J. Simnacher
Producer Kevin J. Simnacher Publisher SimRocker Publishing
Performance Kevin Simnacher and John Reardanz Label n/a

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