"The Battle of New Orleans" is a song written by

Jimmy Driftwood James Corbitt Morris (June 20, 1907 – July 12, 1998), known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, was an American folk music songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and " Tennessee Stud ...

. The song describes the

Battle of New Orleans The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815 between the British Army under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham and the United States Army under Brevet Major General Andrew Jackson, roughly 5 miles (8 km) southeast of the Frenc ...

from the perspective of an American soldier; the song tells the tale of the battle with a light tone and provides a rather comical version of what actually happened at the battle. It has been recorded by many artists, but the singer most often associated with this song is Johnny Horton. His version scored number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1959 (see

1959 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1959. Specific locations *1959 in British music * 1959 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1959 in country music *1959 in jazz Events * January 5 – The first sessions fo ...

). ''Billboard'' ranked it as the No. 1 song for 1959, it was very popular with teenagers in the late 1950s/early 1960s in an era mostly dominated by rock and roll music. Horton's version began with the quoting of the first 12 notes of the song "

Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

," by Daniel Emmett. It ends with the sound of an officer leading a count off in marching, as the song fades out. In ''Billboard'' magazine's rankings of the top songs in the first 50 years of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, "The Battle of New Orleans" was ranked as the 28th song overall and the number-one country music song to appear on the chart. Members of the

Western Writers of America Western Writers of America (WWA), founded 1953, promotes literature, both fictional and nonfictional, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional Western fiction, the more than 600 current members also include histori ...

chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

History

The melody is based on a well-known American fiddle tune "The 8th of January," which was the date of the Battle of New Orleans. Jimmy Driftwood, a school principal in

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

with a passion for

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

, set an account of the battle to this music in an attempt to get students interested in learning history. It seemed to work, and Driftwood became well known in the region for his historical songs. He was "discovered" in the late 1950s by

Don Warden Don Warden (March 27, 1929 – March 11, 2017) was an American country steel guitarist and manager best known for his years on ''The Porter Wagoner Show'' and as the manager of Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Biography Early life Born to Reverend ...

, and eventually was given a recording contract by RCA, for whom he recorded 12 songs in 1958, including "The Battle of New Orleans." "The Battle of New Orleans" is often played during North American sporting events.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

All-time charts

Other versions

Covers and remakes

As noted, Johnny Horton's 1959 version is the best-known recording of the song, which omits the mild expletives and many of the historical references of the original. Horton also recorded an alternative version for release in British Commonwealth countries, avoiding the unfavorable lyrics concerning the British: the word "British" was replaced with "Rebels," along with a few other differences. Many other artists have recorded this song. Notable versions include the following: * In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Vaughn Monroe Vaughn Wilton Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was an American baritone singer, trumpeter, big band leader, actor, and businessman, who was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for rec ...

's 1959 single competed with Horton's but did not achieve the same degree of success and became only a minor Hot 100 hit. * In

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

, Lonnie Donegan and his Skiffle Group's 1959 version competed with Horton's and achieved greater success, peaking at number two. This version includes a spoken introduction, in which Donegan explains that the British were on the losing side. *

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

and Frank Hamilton recorded the song for their 1959 album ''Nonesuch and Other Folk Tunes''. *

The Royal Guardsmen The Royal Guardsmen are an American rock band, best known for their 1966 hit singles " Snoopy vs. the Red Baron", "The Return of The Red Baron", "Snoopy For President", and the Christmas follow up " Snoopy's Christmas". History Originally kn ...

covered the song on their 1966 album '' Snoopy vs. the Red Baron'' *

Harpers Bizarre Harpers Bizarre was an American sunshine pop band of the 1960s, best known for their Broadway/sunshine pop sound and their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's " The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." Career Harpers Bizarre was formed out of t ...

had a minor Hot 100 hit with their somewhat psychedelic version from their 1968 album ''

The Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre ''The Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre'' is an album by Harpers Bizarre, released in September 1968. Two bonus tracks were added to the 2001 Sundazed CD reissue of this title. They had previously been the two sides of a single: "Both Sides Now" ...

''. *

Doug Kershaw Douglas James Kershaw (born January 24, 1936) is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1948, he began his career as part of the duo Rusty and Doug, along with his brother, Rusty Kershaw. He had an exten ...

recorded the song for his third LP, ''Doug Kershaw'' in 1971 * Sunny Ryder sang a version of the song in the 1971 spaghetti western ''

A Town Called Hell ''A Town Called Bastard'' (also known as ''A Town Called Hell'' on DVD and Blu-ray) is a 1971 international co-production spaghetti Western. It was shot in Madrid with Robert Shaw, Telly Savalas, Stella Stevens and Martin Landau. It was relea ...

'' * Johnny Cash's version of the song is on the 1972 album '' America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song''. * The Germany-based

Les Humphries Singers The Les Humphries Singers was a 1970s pop group formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1969 by the English-born Les Humphries. The group had several chart hits in Germany and in other European countries. The Les Humphries Singers dissolved at the end ...

' 1972 hit, "Mexico," used the melody and parts of the lyrics, violating copyright by crediting the song to the British-born bandleader Les Humphries. In 1982 the Les Humphries Singers re-released a remixed version "Mexico" with different lyrics, which charted in the Netherlands. Another new release in 2006 contained the original lyrics again. * Leon Russell's cover of the song is on his 1973 album '' Hank Wilson's Back Vol. I''. *

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band. Constant ...

had a minor Hot 100 hit with their version in 1974. *

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen were an American rock band founded in 1967. The group's leader and co-founder was pianist and vocalist George Frayne IV, alias Commander Cody (born July 19, 1944 in Boise, Idaho, died September 26, 2021 ...

played a cover version of the song at their performance in New York City on September 14, 1976. *

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

performed the song on her 1976/1977 variety show, ''Dolly''. *

Bill Haley William John Clifton Haley (; July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was an American rock and roll musician. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-sel ...

recorded a version in 1979 at his final recording sessions and it was released on his final album, ''Everyone Can Rock and Roll''. * The song features prominently in the 1982 film ''

Veronika Voss ''Veronika Voss'' (german: Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss, "The Longing of Veronika Voss") is a 1982 West German black-and-white drama film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and starring Rosel Zech, Hilmar Thate, and Cornelia Froboess. Loos ...

'' directed by

Rainer Werner Fassbinder Rainer Werner Fassbinder (; 31 May 1945 – 10 June 1982), sometimes credited as R. W. Fassbinder, was a German filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the major figures and catalysts of the New German Cinema movement. Fassbinder's main ...

. *

Sha Na Na Sha Na Na was an American rock and roll doo-wop group. Formed in 1969, but performing a song-and-dance repertoire based on 1950s hit songs, it simultaneously revived and parodied the music and the New York street culture of the 1950s. After ga ...

appropriately performed the song as a part of a

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

themed skit on their show. *

Cornershop Cornershop are a British indie rock band best known for their single "Brimful of Asha", originally released in 1997 and, in a remixed version, topping the UK chart in 1998. The band was formed in 1991 by Wolverhampton-born Tjinder Singh (singe ...

covered the song as a bonus track for their 2009 album ''Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast''. * Kingfish recorded a live version at their 1976 concert at the Beacon Theatre, ''Kingfish in Concert'', released in 1996. * Icelandic singer Erling Ágústsson recorded a cover titled ''Við gefumst aldrei upp'' ("We Never Give Up"). *

Les Claypool Leslie Edward Claypool (born September 29, 1963) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and author. He is best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the ro ...

released a version on his 2014 Duo de Twang debut album ''Four Foot Shack'' with Bryan Kehoe. * Deep Purple included a version of the song on their 2021 covers album ''

Turning to Crime ''Turning to Crime'' is the twenty-second studio album by British rock band Deep Purple, released on 26 November 2021. It is composed entirely of covers, and is the last Deep Purple album to feature guitarist Steve Morse before he left the band ...

''.

Parodies

"The Battle of Kookamonga"

Country music parodists Homer and Jethro had a hit when they parodied "The Battle of New Orleans" with their song "The Battle of Kookamonga". The single was released in 1959 and featured production work by

Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nashville sound, the country music ...

. In this version, the scene shifts from a battleground to a campground, with the combat being changed to the Boy Scouts chasing after the Girl Scouts.

Other parodies

*"The Battle of the Waikato" by

Howard Morrison Quartet The Howard Morrison Quartet (originally named the Ohinemutu Quartet) was a New Zealand band during the 1950s and early 1960s. The band was formed by Sir Howard Morrison and included Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi. In 1955, while wo ...

, 1960. *"Deer Hunter's Lament" by Stew Clayton, 1973. * The Mexican group El Tren recorded a parody titled "La Batalla del Cinco de Mayo," 1980, telling the events of

Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo ( in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoz ...

. *One verse of "The Battle of All Saints Road" by Big Audio Dynamite, 1988 (another verse parodies " Duelling Banjos"). *"The White House Burned" recounts the

Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie (aka 'The Trolls') was a Canadian comedy group from Edmonton, Alberta formed in 1987. Their credits include numerous stage productions, a television show and five albums. The Trolls did sketch comedy, often on risqu� ...

, 1991. *" Ballad of Hank Williams" by

Hank Williams Jr. Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as Hank Williams Jr. or Bocephus, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of southern rock, blues, and country. He is the son of ...

, 1981 *"The New Battle of New Orleans," recounting Hurricane Katrina, by

Ray Stevens Harold Ray Ragsdale (born January 24, 1939), known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country and pop singer-songwriter and comedian, known for his Grammy-winning recordings " Everything Is Beautiful" and " Misty", as well as novel ...

, 2005. *"The Ballad of Fetteh Shmeel" by

Country Yossi Yossi (Joseph) Toiv (born January 9, 1949), known professionally as Country Yossi, is an American Orthodox Jewish composer, singer, radio show host, author, and magazine publisher. A composer and singer in the Jewish music genre, Toiv has to his ...

and the Shteeble-Hoppers, reworks the tune with a Jewish message, on the 2005 LP ''Break Out''. *"The Falklands War Song" is a version recounting the Falklands War from the British perspective.

References

External links

Tom Simon's Battle of New Orleans pageMIDI file of music
(fro

which includes Johnny Horton's lyrics)

includes a recording of "The Eighth of January" {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle of New Orleans, The 1959 singles Johnny Horton songs Vaughn Monroe songs American patriotic songs Bill Haley songs Songs written by Jimmy Driftwood Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs Number-one singles in Australia Number-one singles in Canada Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles of the year Cashbox number-one singles Grammy Award for Song of the Year Songs about the military Songs based on American history Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Songs about New Orleans Columbia Records singles RCA Victor singles 1959 songs Song recordings produced by Don Law *