The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE CRUEL WAR

THE CRUEL WAR IS RAGIN', JOHNNY MUST FIGHT,
THOUGH I WANT TO BE WITH HIM FROM MORNIN' TIL NIGHT.
I WANT TO BE WITH HIM, IT GRIEVES MY HEART SO.
WON'T YOU LET ME GO WITH YOU?
NO, MY LOVE, NO.

TOMORROW IS SUNDAY. MONDAY IS THE DAY,
WHEN YOUR CAPTAIN WILL CALL AND YOU MUST OBEY.
YOUR CAPTAIN WILL CALL YOU. IT GRIEVES MY HEART SO.
WONT YOU LET ME GO WITH YOU?
NO, MY LOVE, NO.

I'LL TIE BACK MY HAIR, MEN'S CLOTHING I'LL PUT ON,
AND I'LL PASS AS YOUR COMRADE AS WE MARCH ALONG.
I'LL PASS AS YOUR COMRADE; NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.
WON'T YOU LET ME GO WITH YOU?
NO, MY LOVE, NO.

JOHNNY, OH JOHNNY, I FEAR YOU ARE UNKIND,
FOR I LOVE YOU FAR BETTER THAN ALL MANKIND.
I LOVE YOU FAR BETTER THAN WORDS CAN ERE EXPRESS.
WON'T YOU LET ME GO WITH YOU?
YES, MY LOVE, YES.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS SONG FROM A GIRL AT SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT IN PRINT ANYWHERE AND DO NOT KNOW THE ORIGIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: 07-00-1964