The Johnson Boys

Recordings

Instrumental Music Of The Southern Appalachians, Various Artists (Boone Reid), 1956
Shanty Boys, Shanty Boys, 195?
The Weavers At Home, The Weavers, 195?
The New Lost City Ramblers, Vol. 3, The New Lost City Ramblers, 1961
Frank Proffitt Sings Folk Songs, Frank Proffitt, 1962
Traditional Music from Grayson and Carroll Counties, Virginia: Songs, Tunes with Fiddle, Banjo and Band, Various Artists (Glen Smith), 1962
The Springfields' Story, The Springfields, 1964
Traditional Music Of Beech Mountain, NC, Vol II, Buna Hicks, 1965
The Flat-Picker's Guitar Guide: An Advanced Instruction Record, Jerry Silverman, 1966
5 String Banjo Greats, David Lindley, 196?
Instrumental Music Of The Southern Appalachians, Various Artists (Boone Reid), 196?
An Old Time Southern Mountain String Band, Iron Mountain String Band, 1973
Snake Baked A Hoecake, Jody Stecher and Friends, 1974
Clawhammer Banjo, Vol. 3, Wade Ward, 1978
Comin' Round The Mountain, Henry Vanoy, 197?
Clawhammer Banjo, David Johnson, 1983
Tom Dooley, Frank Profitt, Vol. 1, Frank Profitt, 1988
J.E. Mainer and The Mountaineers, Vol. 20 Old Time Favorites, J.E. Mainer and The Mountaineers, 1988
Greatest Stars Of Bluegrass, Various Artists, 1989
Music From The Mountain, Iron Mountain String Band, 1992
Masters Of The Banjo, Various Artists, 1994
Where'd You Come From Where'd You Go?, The Freight Hoppers, 1996
Over the Hills and Far Away, The Springfields, 1997
Banjo Festival, Various Artists (David Lindley), 1997
Old-Time Banjo Project, John Cohen, 19??
Folk Songs Of Our Land, Flatt and Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys, 19??
Instrumental Music and Songs Of The Southern Appalachians, Eric Darling, 19??
Bluegrass Music From The Southern Appalachians, Various Artists, 19??
The Hillbillies, 19??
Great Original Recordings 1927-28, The Tenneva Ramblers, 19??
The Asch Recordings, Vol. 2 - 1939 to 1945, Various Artists (Frank Warner, Pete Seeger and Bess Lomax Hawes), 19??
Patchwork, Hesperus, 2000
Going to the West, Ed Littlefield, Jr., 2003
Blockbuster Bluegrass, Various Artists (Trey Hensley), 2006

Notes

Played by the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers in San Carlos on June 11th 1962.

Before this song on the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers tape Garcia says that they stole their songs from the Ramblers who had stolen the songs from the old hill musicians. The Ramblers (New Lost City Ramblers) source is certainly true for this song. Johnson Boys occurs in a number of variations many making fun of the Johnson boys but in the Ramblers versions they are heroes of the Civil War.

The lyrics used by the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers nearly exactly match those in the New Lost City Ramblers Songbook and are as follows; Have you heard of many a story,
Told by young and old with joy,
About the many deeds of daring,
That was done by the Johnson boys.

(Chorus)
Hop up pretty girls don't be afraid,
Hop up pretty girls don't be afraid,
Hop up pretty girls don't be afraid,
Hop up pretty girls don't be afraid.

They were lads of skill and courage,
And their sight was very far,
And they joined the country's service,
In that awful civil war.

Chorus...

The Johnson boys were boys of honor,
They knew how to court the maids,
They knew how to hug and kiss them,
Hop up pretty girls don't be afraid.

Chorus...

They were scouts for the rebel army,
And were known far and wide,
When the Yankees saw them coming,
They threw down their guns and hid.

Chorus... Sometimes occurs on recordings as Meet The Johnston Boys or Legend Of The Johnston Boys.