John Cowan Hartford (December 30, 1937– June 4, 2001) was an American count… Read Full Bio ↴John Cowan Hartford (December 30, 1937– June 4, 2001) was an American country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore. Hartford performed with a variety of ensembles throughout his career, and is perhaps best known for his solo performances where he would interchange the guitar, banjo, and fiddle from song to song. He also invented his own shuffle tap dance move, and clogged on an amplified piece of plywood while he played and sang.
At the time of his death, Hartford was also working on the biography of the blind fiddler Ed Haley. Hartford's album Wild Hog in the Red Bush is a collection of Haley's tunes. Hartford also provided narration for several of Ken Burns' documentaries.
Hartford was given a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Hartford recorded more than 30 albums in his life, ranging across a broad spectrum of styles--from the traditional country of his early RCA recordings, to the new and experimental sound of his early newgrass recordings, to the traditional folk style to which he often returned later in his life. Hartford's albums also vary widely in formality, from the stately and orderly "Annual Waltz" to the rougher and less cut recordings that typified many of his later albums.
"Aereo-Plain" and "Morning Bugle" are often considered to be Hartford's most influential work, coming as they did at the very beginning of a period in which artists such as Hartford and the New Grass Revival, led by Sam Bush, would create a new form of country music, blending their country backgrounds with influences from another of other sources. His later years saw a number of live albums, as well as recordings that explored the repertoire of old-time folk music. He sketched the cover art for some of his mid-career albums, drawing with both hands simultaneously.
From the 1980s onwards, Hartford struggled with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On June 4, 2001 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, at age 63, he died of the disease.
Hartford is remembered as an influential and pioneering artist. Never bound by the limitations of one genre, he recorded wherever his interests led him. Performing and recording until his illness rendered him incapable of continuing, Hartford contributed a vast and unique body of work to the library of American music.

Blame It On Joann
John Hartford Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Joann, Joann
It must have happened by your hand
Joann, Joann, Joann
You must have done it

You′re the only one around
That we can all put down
Joann, Joann

You must have done it

We love you 'cause you always let us hate you
We love you ′cause you do not take it well
We love you 'cause you put us all in heaven
Let us sit and wish you'd go to hell

We love you ′cause you always let us hate you
We love you ′cause you do not take it well
We love you 'cause you put us all in heaven
Let us sit and wish you′d go to hell

Joann, Joann
Damn, damn, damn Joann
Joann
You must have done it

You're the only one around
That we can all put down
Joann, Joann, Joann
You must have done it
We love you ′cause you always let us hate you
We love you 'cause you do not take it well

We love you ′cause you put us all in heaven
Let us sit and wish you'd go to hell

Overall Meaning

In John Hartford's song "Blame It On Joann," the lyrics portray a complex dynamic between the character of Joann and those around her. It seems that Joann is being blamed for something that has happened, indicated by the repeated lines "Joann, Joann, Joann, you must have done it." The use of "must have" suggests that the blame is assumed rather than proven.

The following lines reveal a contradictory sentiment towards Joann. While she is described as "the only one around that we can all put down," there is also a confession of love towards her. The line "We love you 'cause you always let us hate you" implies that Joann allows others to criticize and belittle her. This could suggest that she plays the role of the outsider, willingly accepting the negative treatment from others.

The chorus repeats the idea that Joann is loved because she "puts us all in heaven" while simultaneously inviting the wish for her to "go to hell." This shows the conflicting emotions and attitudes towards Joann. It suggests that her presence elicits both positive and negative reactions from those around her.

Overall, "Blame It On Joann" explores the complexities of human relationships, specifically focusing on the love-hate dynamic that can exist within a group.

Line by Line Meaning

Joann, Joann
Oh Joann, Joann

It must have happened by your hand
The blame must fall on you

Joann, Joann, Joann
Oh Joann, Joann, Joann

You must have done it
You are responsible

You're the only one around
You are the only target

That we can all put down
That we can all criticize

Joann, Joann
Oh Joann, Joann

You must have done it
You are responsible

We love you 'cause you always let us hate you
We love you because you allow us to despise you

We love you 'cause you do not take it well
We love you because you don't handle it well

We love you 'cause you put us all in heaven
We love you because you make us feel superior