During 1960, Horton had two other successes with "North to Alaska" for John Wayne's movie, North to Alaska, and "Sink the Bismarck". Horton is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Johnny Horton had several top ten songs in the late 50's and early 60's and was on the verge of becoming one of the top stars of the 60's when he met with tragedy.
He was born John Gale Horton in Los Angeles in 1925. He was raised in Tyler, Texas. Horton worked in the fishing industry in Alaska and California, and attended Seattle University. He worked for a while as a carpenter, and played basketball at Baylor University. He worked at a local radio station in East Texas and at the Hometown Jamboree in California. He did some recording with little success for the Abbott, Mercury, and Dot labels and picked up the nickname the Singing Fisherman. Horton became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride.
Johnny married Billie Jean Jones, the widow of country music legend Hank Williams. He sang country songs and signed a recording contract with Columbia, where he would achieve his greatest success. Some of his first hits included Honky Tonk Man, I'm A One-Woman Man in 1956, Coming Home in 1957 and All Grown Up in 1958. He topped the country charts in 1959 with When It's Springtime In Alaska.
Johnny Horton then began to record a series of saga songs that crossed over to the pop charts. He covered Jimmy Driftwood's The Battle Of New Orleans in 1959. The song topped the country charts and it reached number one on the pop charts, where it remained for a solid six weeks. The song was a tribute to the final battle of the War of 1812. He also recorded Sink The Bismarck in 1960, a song that was suggested by the film of the same title; it went top ten country and pop. Johnny Horton was a star. He sang the title song for the John Wayne movie North To Alaska and it too made the top ten in both charts during the same year.
On November 5, 1960, while North To Alaska was still climbing the charts, Horton was killed in an automobile accident in Milano, Texas following an appearance at the Skyline Club in Austin. He is buried in Hillcrest Cemetary in Haughton, LA.
Following Horton's death some of his earlier hit songs made the charts once again. Albums of his recordings were compiled and issued in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, and they are still selling.
His biography was published in 1983 under the title Your Singing Fisherman.
I'm Coming Home
Johnny Horton Lyrics
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'Cause we're gonna do the town tonight
I'm comin' into town and I'm right on time
Still got your lovin' on my mind
I'm a coming home, I gotta make some love
I'm a coming home, sweet turtle dove
I'm a coming home, to make sweet love to you
Well, I see down the road, there's a big truck stop
They got a pretty little waitress with a carrot top
She's pretty as a doll, pretty as can be
But don't you worry, honey, she ain't nothin' to me
I'm a coming home, I gotta make some love
I'm a coming home, sweet turtle dove
I'm a coming home, to make sweet love to you
Well, I came to a hill and the truck looked down
Throwed in low and she's huggin' the ground
Scratchin' gears but I'm goin' again
I'm comin' home, baby, I'm a doggin' it in
I'm a coming home, I gotta make some love
I'm a coming home, sweet turtle dove
I'm a coming home, to make sweet love to you
Get your face all pretty and your hair done right
'Cause we're gonna do this town tonight
I'm comin' into town and I'm right on time
Still got your lovin' on my mind
I'm a coming home, I gotta make some love
I'm a coming home, sweet turtle dove
I'm a coming home, to make sweet love to you
The lyrics of Johnny Horton's song "I'm Coming Home" tell the story of a man who is eager to return to his beloved after being away for some time. He sings that he is right on time and ready to hit the town with his lover. He tells her to get all pretty with her hair done right because they are going to do the town tonight.
The very first line "Get your face all pretty and your hair done right" sets the tone that this song is about a romantic reunion. The man sings that he still has her love on his mind and he is eager to make some love to her. He assures her that despite seeing a pretty waitress with a carrot top, she is nothing compared to his turtle dove. The man also uses truck driving metaphors to describe his return journey, saying he threw in low and hugged the ground, and scratched gears before finally dogging it into town.
This song is a classic example of a romantic country song, capturing the deep emotional connection between two people, and the joy of a reunion after a long time apart. It's a song full of energy and eagerness, and it's easy to see why it has become a beloved classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Get your face all pretty and your hair done right
Prepare yourself to look stunning and attractive because we are going out on the town tonight.
'Cause we're gonna do the town tonight
We are going to have a great time exploring and enjoying all the exciting adventures the town has to offer tonight.
I'm comin' into town and I'm right on time
I'm arriving in town at the perfect time with everything in its proper order and schedule.
Still got your lovin' on my mind
I'm filled with passionate thoughts of love and affection for you, even as I enter the town.
I'm a coming home, I gotta make some love
I'm returning to you, my beloved partner, with the sole purpose of making love to you.
I'm a coming home, sweet turtle dove
Like a sweet and loving turtle dove, I'm returning to my nest - my peaceful and happy home with you.
I'm a coming home, to make sweet love to you
I'm excited and eager to show you how much I love you by making tender and romantic love to you.
Well, I see down the road, there's a big truck stop
From a distance, I can see a large truck stop on the road ahead.
They got a pretty little waitress with a carrot top
I noticed that there is a charming waitress with red hair working at the truck stop.
She's pretty as a doll, pretty as can be
She's incredibly beautiful and looks like a porcelain doll in her appearance.
But don't you worry, honey, she ain't nothin' to me
Despite her beauty, I want to reassure you that she means nothing to me and my love for you remains unchanged and sincere.
Well, I came to a hill and the truck looked down
As I approached a hill, my truck started to descend and gain momentum.
Throwed in low and she's huggin' the ground
I shifted gears and pushed the truck to its limits, keeping it close to the ground and driving it as fast as possible.
Scratchin' gears but I'm goin' again
I shifted gears again, and despite the roughness of the process, I continue driving forward on my journey to reach you.
I'm comin' home, baby, I'm a doggin' it in
I'm hurrying home and pushing my vehicle to the limit to be with you as quickly as possible, my darling.
Get your face all pretty and your hair done right
Once again, I urge you to enhance your beauty with a good look so that we can both enjoy our time together on this special night.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tillman B Franks, Johnny Horton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thedivinemrm5832
This is a great, big nugget of Rockabilly gold, folks.
@slicksnewonenow
This is actually one of the hardest Rockabilly tunes to play CORRECTLY.
It's deceptively simple.
And it's my favorite Horton number!
@musicmandon1
Johnny Horton was one of the very best. This song brings back memories of coming home after a long road trip when I broadcast baseball. My wife and I are both quite average-looking folks, but after a couple of weeks on the road, she would seem indescribably beautiful, and I would pull her in close with all the restraint of a college freshman with his first love.
@thierryvincent8411
Wow ça c’est bon! That’s wild rockabilly that i love...
@garypuma3612
One the horniest country songs ever. Lonely, jacked-up trucker ready to get back to his gal. Bravo
@cosmic687
great guitar work
@TheXorg
God bless Mr. Johnny Horton
@pamm8608
I'm familiar with Robert Gordon's version. I always like to research the original or st least previous versions. I like the lyrics. Plain and straight. He misses his woman and nobody else matters.
@LlamasOnMySofa
Beau-ti-ful!!!!
@lateforbreakfast
first time I've heard this Johnny Horton song, he could certainly sing to a fast and bouncy backing... musicmandon1..thats a very pleasant story...