Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army and was influenced by church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as The Louvin Brothers. Loudermilk is a graduate of Campbell College (now Campbell University), a private North Carolina Baptist Convention-owned college in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
As a young boy he learned to play the guitar, and while still in his teens, wrote a poem that he set to music, "A Rose and a Baby Ruth". The owners of the local television station, where he worked as a handyman, allowed him to play the song on-air, resulting in country musician George Hamilton IV putting it on record in 1956. After Eddie Cochran had his first hit record with Loudermilk's song "Sittin' in the Balcony", Loudermilk's career path was firmly set.
Loudermilk recorded some of his songs, including "Sittin' in the Balcony", under the stage name "Johnny Dee" (reaching No. 38 on the pop charts in 1957). His "Johnny Dee" records were recorded for the North Carolina-based Colonial Records label.
In 1958, Loudermilk signed with Columbia Records and recorded five unsuccessful singles to 1959.[3] In 1961, he signed with RCA Victor, where he had a number of hits:
"Language of Love" (US No. 32/ UK Top 20) in 1961
"Thou Shalt Not Steal" (US No. 73) in 1962
"Callin' Doctor Casey" (US No. 83) in 1962
"Road Hog" (US No. 65) in 1962
It was as a songwriter that Loudermilk made his mark. In 1963 he wrote another all-time hit for George Hamilton IV, "Abilene". Working out of country music capital Nashville, Tennessee, Loudermilk became one of the most productive songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s, penning country and pop music hits for the Everly Brothers, Johnny Tillotson, Chet Atkins, The Nashville Teens, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Johnny Cash, Marianne Faithfull, Stonewall Jackson, Sue Thompson and others. For example, he wrote "The Pale Faced Indian", later known as "Indian Reservation", a hit in the 1970s, and "Tobacco Road", a hit in the 1960s and 1970s for, among others, the Nashville Teens, Blues Magoos, Eric Burdon & War, and David Lee Roth. "Midnight Bus" was recorded by several singers, and he commented that the best was by Betty McQuade in Melbourne, Australia.
"Indian Reservation"
A well-known story surrounding one of Loudermilk's songs is that, when he was asked by the Viva! NashVegas radio show about the origins of the Raider's hit song "Indian Reservation", he told that he wrote the song after his car was snowed in by a blizzard and being taken in by Cherokee Indians. He claimed that the chief "Bloody Bear Tooth" asked him to make a song about his people's plight and the Trail of Tears. Loudermilk, after being awarded the first medal of the Cherokee nation for this, was asked to read an old ledger book kept during The Trail of Tears. As he read through the names, he discovered his great grandparents, at the age of 91, were marched 1,600 miles (2,600 km) during the plight.
Notable compositions
"Abilene" (a hit for George Hamilton IV)
"Angela Jones" (a hit in the US for Johnny Ferguson and in the UK for Michael Cox)
"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" (a hit for George Hamilton IV)
"Bad News" (covered by Johnny Cash, and by Johnny Winter)
"Big Daddy ('s Alabamy Bound)" (covered by Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, the Willis Brothers)
"Blue Train" (George Hamilton IV – 1972)
"Break My Mind" (covered by George Hamilton IV, Anne Murray, Sammy Davis, Jr, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, Gram Parsons, Wreckless Eric, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Vern Gosdin and The Box Tops)
"Ebony Eyes" (a hit for The Everly Brothers)
"Everything's Alright" (a #16 Billboard hit for The Newbeats)
"Google Eye" (a hit for The Nashville Teens)
"The Great Snowman" (Bob Luman)
"Hey Ma ! (Hide The Daughter)" a single for "Little" Jimmy Dickens 1959
"He's Just a Scientist" (a notable recording by John D. Loudermilk himself)
"I Hear It Now" (a notable recording by John D. Loudermilk himself)
"I Wanna Live" (a hit for Glen Campbell)
"I'll Never Tell" (recorded by Roy Orbison)
"Indian Reservation" (a hit for Don Fardon and later for Paul Revere and The Raiders; also included in "Indian Outlaw")
"Norman" (a hit for Sue Thompson)
"Paper Tiger" (a hit for Sue Thompson)
"Road Hog" (1962, A Portuguese version called "O Calhambeque" released in 1963 by Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos is a very big hit in Brazil, well known to the public till today; same story in France with Joe Dassin's version "Bip bip" in 1964)
"Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" (a hit for Sue Thompson)(covered by Boney M)
"Sittin' in the Balcony" ( a hit for Eddie Cochran)
"Sun Glasses", (recorded in 1965 by Skeeter Davis, and in 1967 by Sandy Posey, became a hit in UK in 1984 for Tracey Ullman)
"Talk Back Trembling Lips" (a hit for Johnny Tillotson)
"The Language of Love"
"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (a hit for The Casinos, also recorded by Johnny Nash)
"This Little Bird" (a hit for Marianne Faithfull and The Nashville Teens)
"Thou Shalt Not Steal" (a hit for Dick and Dee Dee)
"Tobacco Road" (a hit for The Nashville Teens (1964); also recorded by Lou Rawls (1963, 1966), the Blues Magoos (1966), Jefferson Airplane (1966), Rare Earth (1969), Edgar Winter's White Trash (1970), David Lee Roth (1985) and many more)
"Top 40, News, Weather and Sports" recorded 1961 by Mark Dinning
"Torture" (a hit for Kris Jensen)
"Turn Me On" (made famous by Norah Jones' cover)
"Waterloo" (a hit for Stonewall Jackson)
"Weep No More My Baby" (B-side to Brenda Lee's hit "Sweet Nothin's")
"What A Woman in Love Won't Do" (Sandy Posey)
"Windy and Warm" (Played by guitarist Chet Atkins)
"You Call It Joggin' (I Call It Runnin' Around) (recorded by Mose Allison)
Awards and honors
1976 – Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
2011 – Inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame
Discography
Albums
Year Album Label
1961 Language of Love RCA
1962 Twelve Sides of John D. Loudermilk
1966 A Bizarre Collection of the Most Unusual Songs
1967 Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse
1968 Country Love Songs
1969 The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk
1970 The Best of John D. Loudermilk
1971 Volume 1-Elloree Warner
1979 Just Passing Through MIM
Singles
Year Single Chart Positions Album
US Country US
1957 "Sittin' in the Balcony" — 38 single only
1961 "Language of Love" — 32 Language of Love
1962 "Thou Shalt Not Steal" — 73 singles only
"Callin' Dr. Casey" — 83
"Road Hog" — 65 Twelve Sides
1963 "Bad News" (b/w "Guitar Player(Her and Him)") 23 — singles only
1964 "Blue Train (Of the Heartbreak Line)" 44 132
"Th' Wife" 45 —
1965 "That Ain't All" 20 —
1966 "Silver Cloud Talkin' Blues" — — A Bizarre Collection of the Most Unusual Songs
"You're the Guilty One" — — single only
1967 "It's My Time" 51 — Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse
1968 "Odd Folks of Okracoke" — — single only
1969 "Brown Girl" — — The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk
1971 "Lord Have Mercy" — — Volume 1-Elloree
1979 "Every Day I Learn a Little More About Love" — — Just Passing Through
Guest singles
Year Single Artist US Country
1967 "Chet's Tune" Some of Chet's Friends 38
Brown Girl
John D. Loudermilk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playin' a new game
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
You, my brown-eyed girl
Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow?
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Slipping and sliding
All along the waterfall, with you
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Just like that
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da
So hard to find my way
Now that I'm all on my own
I saw you just the other day
My, how you have grown
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da
(Bit by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit)
(Sha la la la la la la, la te da, la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da
(La te da, da da da da da da da da)
The song Brown Girl by John D. Loudermilk is a nostalgic love song that talks about a childhood romance that has now turned into adulthood. The song starts with the lines "Hey, where did we go?" that set the tone for reminiscing and looking back at the past. The singer recollects the days of his childhood when he and his "brown-eyed girl" would play a new game in the hollow while it rained. They would laugh, run, skip, and jump in the misty morning fog. The lyrics use poetic language to describe the love and innocence of childhood play.
As the song progresses, the singer moves on to the memories of his teenage years. He recalls going down the old mine with a transistor radio and listening to music while standing in the sunlight with his girl. They would hide behind a rainbow's wall and slide along the waterfall. The chorus repeats the phrase "my brown-eyed girl" to emphasize the depth of affection and love between the two.
The last part of the song takes a somber note, where the singer reflects on how hard it is to find his way now that he is "all on his own." He sees his brown-eyed girl after a long time and is awed by how much she has grown. He remembers the times when they used to make love in the green grass behind the stadium, which is a metaphor for their innocent and pure love.
Overall, the song is a beautiful portrayal of love and nostalgia. It is an ode to childhood sweethearts who grew up together and went their separate ways but never forgot their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, where did we go?
In a nostalgic tone, the singer wonders where he and his companion used to journey together.
Days when the rains came
The singer reflects on the time period being discussed, marked by frequent rain showers.
Down in the hollow
The duo would go down into a small valley or depression, perhaps to explore or seek adventure.
Playin' a new game
During their excursions, the pair experimented with different games and activities.
Laughing and a running hey, hey
The artist recalls how they laughed and ran carefree during these outings.
Skipping and a jumping
The friends skipped and jumped joyfully, continuing their playful energy.
In the misty morning fog with
The memories being recounted evoke a sense of foggy mystery and enchantment.
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
Amidst the mist and excitement, the artist's heart raced with anticipation and the company of their beloved friend.
My brown-eyed girl
The friend being reminisced about has beautiful brown eyes and holds a special place in the artist's memories.
You, my brown-eyed girl
The artist addresses their friend directly, emphasizing the significance of their relationship and the role they played in these memories.
Whatever happened
The singer reflects on the passing of time and how things have changed since those carefree days.
To Tuesday and so slow?
The passing weeks and simple, slow-paced life of the past is contrasted with the speed and complexity of modern times.
Going down the old mine
Returning to the setting of their previous adventures, the singer recalls visiting an abandoned mine at some point in the past.
With a transistor radio
The singer remembers bringing a portable radio to the mine to play music or listen to the radio.
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Along with their joy and energy, the singer recalls the warmth and light of the sun during their visits to the mine.
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall
The memory of standing behind a rainbow becomes a metaphor for a moment of joyful innocence amidst a world of change and uncertainty.
Slipping and sliding
The artist recalls slipping and sliding playfully along a waterfall, perhaps on a nearby slope or rockface.
All along the waterfall, with you
The memories of exploration and adventure are tied to the friendship and companionship of the brown-eyed girl.
Do you remember when we used to sing
The singer asks their friend if they recall moments from their past, highlighting the importance of shared memories.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
The lyrics of the song they sang together emerge in the memory, emphasising the care-free, nonsensical nature of their time together.
Just like that
The ease with which they shared the simple joy of singing together is recalled, with a sense of wistful longing.
So hard to find my way
The artist expresses confusion or uncertainty about their current direction in life, having lost the sense of clear purpose and togetherness they once had.
Now that I'm all on my own
The fun memories of exploration and companionship are contrasted with the solitary, lonely nature of the singer's current experience.
I saw you just the other day
The artist saw the brown-eyed girl recently, sparking these memories and emotions in the present moment.
My, how you have grown
The friend has changed and grown since their adventuring days, prompting the singer to reflect on how they too have changed over time.
Cast my memory back there, Lord
The singer offers a prayerful reflection to evoke these memories with greater clarity and meaning.
Sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
The vividness of these memories can be overwhelming and emotional for the singer, caught between nostalgia and regret.
Making love in the green grass
The artist recalls a romantic moment shared with the brown-eyed girl in a grassy area near a stadium.
Behind the stadium with you
The location of the romantic moment is recalled, as well as the presence of the brown-eyed girl who made it special.
Sha la la la la la la
The nonsense lyrics emerge again, serving as a symbol of shared intimacy and playfulness between the two friends.
Bit by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit
The repeating phrase echoes the passage of time and change, highlighting the moments of loss and distance that the singer feels.
(La te da, da da da da da da da da)
The final repetition of the song lyrics adds a final note of whimsy and joy, even as the artist recognizes the challenges of remembering and moving forward from the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Van Morrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Benn
GOD
This guy should have been much more famous than he was.
What a fantastic voice & songwriter.
Amazing sounds & so,so good.
From a 72yo Aussie fan.
Great lyrics!!!!!!
Dale McCamish
JDL wonderful Songsmith, I am sure Bob Dylan took inspiration from JDL as well as Guthrie, Seeger, etc. This piece of music, especially lyrics are worthy of much higher elevation.
Michael Ebbert
you are absolutely right!
Lisa Cross
Just in case one is not aware, there are many show interview video recordings of him. Mostly the hosts just let him speak on or as he wished. He was very funny, a fabulous storyteller. You will chuckle outloud. He often tells it all. I enjoyed the one where he speaks of Mike at 15, the trip they were on when Mike wrote an instrumental for Chet. His telling was hysterical; the way he conveys his surprise and awe. It's a great way to see him as he was in his later years. I'm sure he is truly missed. Enjoy whomever you love bc they won't be here forever. Life is so short ... make it sweet : )
Lisa Cross
When much younger, I had once known for a time, one of his sons. I really had no idea of whom his father was at first, though he mentioned so, spoke of him often. Now that I'm older, I did learn how talented his father actually was. Years later, I had heard he passed away the year after he actually did. He passed on my birthday no less. I like his "Turn Me On" tune most. I heard it from Norah Jones. It was a cover song of one of his own. I'd say he more than left his mark behind. Interesting life he had. RIP J.D.L.
Gary Wilson
In my parents record collection was a single, language of love, I loved the song and it has brought me here and opened my eyes to John D Loudermilks songs. I love this song and the message that love conquers everything, even hate! Sometimes it needs a helping hand though! Thanks for sharing.
Eli Ortega,Jr
This one should have had more air play on the radio.
fosbury68
I can't imagine this song was ever intended to be a hit. Just too challenging and controversial for radio. But I bet when he performed it live he had the audience in the palm of his hand.
Peter Doremus
It is long past time for a retrospective of this incredibly good singer/songwriter. NPR, my taxes pay for your infrastructure. So...get after it!! Cut the political horse manure and recognize this artist.
Bonnie Speeg
Lord, where is the entire Smithsonian Loudermilk room?