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.
Mr. Moonlight
Johnny Horton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[ guitar ]
Nobody really cares where the moon goes to dawn
Just as long as it's around when the sun goes down then it's nothing wrong
Mr Moon and me and baby makes three we're just like one big family
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight
When the storm clouds gather and you don't know what to do
Pack up your troubles and take a walk underneath the moon
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight
[ guitar ]
Well I've been gone for a long long time from home
You can bet your money honey when I walk I walk alone
I'm not mixed up with Mr Moon around it's the word that sounds upside down
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight
If you and I Mr Moonlight we make three
And don't forget baby will have all night you him and me
He'll put their moonbeams in your hair I bet John Lovin' he'll take it from there
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight Mr Moonlight
The song Mr. Moonlight by Johnny Horton is about the special relationship between the moon and the singer of the song. It starts by pointing out how nobody really cares about the moon's whereabouts during the day, as long as it's there through the night. The moon, to the musician, is a symbol of consistency and reliability. The singer then goes on to say how he, the moon, and his baby are like one big family. The moonlight serves to provide comfort in difficult situations. When the storm clouds gather, the singer suggests taking a walk under the moonlight and telling Mr. Moon about one's troubles. This practice will lead one to hum a happy song, according to him. The song then goes on to celebrate the special bond between the singer and the moon. The singer feels like he has been away from home for too long but when he is with Mr. Moon, everything feels alright. The final line suggests that if Mr. Moon were to join the singer and his lover, they could have a fantastic night together.
The song is a celebration of love and the belief in a higher power that one can confide in. The singer's relationship with Mr. Moon is comparable to that of a father figure, who provides guidance and support, especially in difficult times. The song has a leisurely country rock feel, which makes it easy to listen to and also enhances the laidback nature of the narrative. This track encourages listeners to find solace and comfort in the beauty of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody really cares where the moon goes to dawn
No one pays attention or is concerned about where the moon goes during daylight hours
Just as long as it's around when the sun goes down then it's nothing wrong
As long as the moon is visible at night, people are content and see no issue
Mr Moon and me and baby makes three we're just like one big family
The singer feels connected to the moon and considers it part of their family
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight
The presence of the bright moon makes everything feel right and positive
When the storm clouds gather and you don't know what to do
During difficult times, represented by dark storm clouds, one may feel lost or helpless
Pack up your troubles and take a walk underneath the moon
The singer suggests taking a walk in the moonlight to alleviate stress and worries
Tell him what's wrong and before too long you'll be hummin' a happy song
Sharing problems with the moon may lead to a sense of relief and happiness
Well I've been gone for a long long time from home
The singer has been away from home for an extended period
You can bet your money honey when I walk I walk alone
The singer walks alone and is self-sufficient
I'm not mixed up with Mr Moon around it's the word that sounds upside down
The moon's presence makes everything seem right and positive, even things that may seem unconventional or strange
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight
Once again, the presence of the moon makes everything feel right and positive
If you and I Mr Moonlight we make three
The singer considers the moon to be a companion or friend
And don't forget baby will have all night you him and me
The three, including the baby, will have all night to spend together
He'll put their moonbeams in your hair I bet John Lovin' he'll take it from there
The moon's light will reflect on the singer's hair and lead to romantic moments
Everything is right when you're shining bright Mr Moonlight Mr Moonlight
The song reiterates that the moon's presence makes everything feel positive and right
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Roy Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sanguis
on I Hate Niggers
John Gale "Johnny" Horton did NOT write or sing the song "I Hate Niggers". That song was by Johnny Rebel and not written or released for some years after Johnny Horton died.