Lonnie Donegan MBE (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002) was a British "skiffle… Read Full Bio ↴Lonnie Donegan MBE (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002) was a British "skiffle" musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is referred to as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s.
Donegan was born as Anthony James Donegan in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of a professional violinist. His ethnic mix was Scottish/Irish. He moved with his mother to London at an early age, after his parents divorced. Inspired by blues music and New Orleans jazz bands he heard on the radio, he resolved to learn the guitar, and bought his first at the age of fourteen.
The first band he ever played in was the trad jazz band led by Chris Barber, who approached him on a train asking him if he wanted to audition for his group. Barber had heard that Donegan was a good banjo player; in fact, Donegan had never played the banjo at this point, but he bought one and managed to bluff his way through the audition. His stint in this group was interrupted, however, when he was called up for National Service in 1949. He also played in Ken Colyer's group
In 1952, he formed his first own group, the Tony Donegan Jazzband, which found some work around London. On one occasion they opened for the blues musician Lonnie Johnson at the Royal Festival Hall. Donegan was a big fan of Johnson, and took his first name as a tribute to him. The story goes that the host at the concert got the musicians' names confused, calling them "Tony Johnson" and "Lonnie Donegan", and Donegan was happy to keep the name.
With a washboard, a tea-chest bass and a cheap Spanish guitar, Donegan entertained audiences with folk and blues songs by artists such as Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie. This proved so popular that in July 1954 he recorded a fast-tempoed version of Leadbelly's "Rock Island Line", featuring a washboard but not a tea-chest bass, with "John Henry" on the B-side. It was an enormous hit in 1956 (which also later inspired the creation of a full album, An Englishman Sings American Folk Songs, released in America on the Mercury label in the early 1960s) but ironically, because it was a band recording, Donegan made no money from this recording beyond his original session fee. (Nevertheless, Donegan received considerable music publishing royalties from "Rock Island" simply by claiming the British copyright on an unregistered song which was considered to be in the Public Domain. This led to the peculiar situation that any "cover" version of "Rock Island Line" which was released on record in Britain from 1956 showed the song composition credited to Lonnie Donegan.) It was the first debut record to go gold in the UK, and reached the Top Ten in the United States. His next single for Decca, "Diggin' My Potatoes", was recorded at a concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 30 October 1954.[4] Decca dropped Donegan thereafter, but within a month he was at the Abbey Road Studios in London recording for EMI's Columbia label. He had left the Barber band by then, and by the spring of 1955, Donegan signed a recording contract with Pye. His next single "Lost John" reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart.
His success at the time saw Donegan sent to the United States, where he appeared on television on both Perry Como Show and Paul Winchell Show. Returning to the UK, Donegan recorded his debut album, Lonnie Donegan Showcase, in the summer of 1956, which featured songs by Lead Belly and Leroy Carr, plus "I'm a Ramblin' Man" and "Wabash Cannonball". The LP was a hit, securing sales in the hundreds of thousands.[4] The popular skiffle style encouraged amateurs to get started, and one of the many skiffle groups that followed was The Quarrymen formed in March 1957 by John Lennon. Donegan's "Gamblin' Man" / "Puttin' On the Style" single was number one on the UK chart in July 1957, when Lennon first met Paul McCartney.
Donegan went on to make a series of popular records with successes including "Cumberland Gap" and, particularly "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour (On The Bedpost Over Night)", his only hit song in the U.S., released on Dot. He turned to a music hall style with "My Old Man's a Dustman" which was not well received by skiffle fans, or in an attempted but ultimately unsuccessful American release by Atlantic in 1960, but it reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. Donegan's group had a flexible line-up, but was generally formed by Denny Wright or Les Bennetts (of Les Hobeaux and Chas McDevitt's skiffle groups) playing lead guitar and singing harmony vocals, Micky Ashman or Pete Huggett - later Steve Jones - on upright bass, Nick Nichols - later Pete Appleby and Mark Goodwin - on drums or percussion and Donegan playing acoustic guitar or banjo and singing the lead.
He continued to appear regularly in the UK charts until 1962, before succumbing to the arrival of The Beatles and beat music.
Add 1: In the early fifties after Donegan was demobbed from National Service he joined Chris Barber and Ken Colyer and others called Ken Colyer's Jazzmen which consisted of Ken Colyer (trumpet), Chris Barber (trombone), Monty Sunshine (clarinet), Lonnie Donegan (banjo), Jim Bray (bass) Dickie Bishop (Guitar) and Ron Bowden (drums). This group recorded two excellent blues numbers with Lonnie Donegan as vocal called "In the evening when de sun go down" and "The Midnight Special" After a year, Ken colyer stormed out of the group and Chris Barber took over.
http://www.p.griggsy.btinternet.co.uk/Untitled/Lonnie.html (Memories of Lonnie Donegan by Paul Griggs)
Donegan was born as Anthony James Donegan in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of a professional violinist. His ethnic mix was Scottish/Irish. He moved with his mother to London at an early age, after his parents divorced. Inspired by blues music and New Orleans jazz bands he heard on the radio, he resolved to learn the guitar, and bought his first at the age of fourteen.
The first band he ever played in was the trad jazz band led by Chris Barber, who approached him on a train asking him if he wanted to audition for his group. Barber had heard that Donegan was a good banjo player; in fact, Donegan had never played the banjo at this point, but he bought one and managed to bluff his way through the audition. His stint in this group was interrupted, however, when he was called up for National Service in 1949. He also played in Ken Colyer's group
In 1952, he formed his first own group, the Tony Donegan Jazzband, which found some work around London. On one occasion they opened for the blues musician Lonnie Johnson at the Royal Festival Hall. Donegan was a big fan of Johnson, and took his first name as a tribute to him. The story goes that the host at the concert got the musicians' names confused, calling them "Tony Johnson" and "Lonnie Donegan", and Donegan was happy to keep the name.
With a washboard, a tea-chest bass and a cheap Spanish guitar, Donegan entertained audiences with folk and blues songs by artists such as Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie. This proved so popular that in July 1954 he recorded a fast-tempoed version of Leadbelly's "Rock Island Line", featuring a washboard but not a tea-chest bass, with "John Henry" on the B-side. It was an enormous hit in 1956 (which also later inspired the creation of a full album, An Englishman Sings American Folk Songs, released in America on the Mercury label in the early 1960s) but ironically, because it was a band recording, Donegan made no money from this recording beyond his original session fee. (Nevertheless, Donegan received considerable music publishing royalties from "Rock Island" simply by claiming the British copyright on an unregistered song which was considered to be in the Public Domain. This led to the peculiar situation that any "cover" version of "Rock Island Line" which was released on record in Britain from 1956 showed the song composition credited to Lonnie Donegan.) It was the first debut record to go gold in the UK, and reached the Top Ten in the United States. His next single for Decca, "Diggin' My Potatoes", was recorded at a concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 30 October 1954.[4] Decca dropped Donegan thereafter, but within a month he was at the Abbey Road Studios in London recording for EMI's Columbia label. He had left the Barber band by then, and by the spring of 1955, Donegan signed a recording contract with Pye. His next single "Lost John" reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart.
His success at the time saw Donegan sent to the United States, where he appeared on television on both Perry Como Show and Paul Winchell Show. Returning to the UK, Donegan recorded his debut album, Lonnie Donegan Showcase, in the summer of 1956, which featured songs by Lead Belly and Leroy Carr, plus "I'm a Ramblin' Man" and "Wabash Cannonball". The LP was a hit, securing sales in the hundreds of thousands.[4] The popular skiffle style encouraged amateurs to get started, and one of the many skiffle groups that followed was The Quarrymen formed in March 1957 by John Lennon. Donegan's "Gamblin' Man" / "Puttin' On the Style" single was number one on the UK chart in July 1957, when Lennon first met Paul McCartney.
Donegan went on to make a series of popular records with successes including "Cumberland Gap" and, particularly "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour (On The Bedpost Over Night)", his only hit song in the U.S., released on Dot. He turned to a music hall style with "My Old Man's a Dustman" which was not well received by skiffle fans, or in an attempted but ultimately unsuccessful American release by Atlantic in 1960, but it reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. Donegan's group had a flexible line-up, but was generally formed by Denny Wright or Les Bennetts (of Les Hobeaux and Chas McDevitt's skiffle groups) playing lead guitar and singing harmony vocals, Micky Ashman or Pete Huggett - later Steve Jones - on upright bass, Nick Nichols - later Pete Appleby and Mark Goodwin - on drums or percussion and Donegan playing acoustic guitar or banjo and singing the lead.
He continued to appear regularly in the UK charts until 1962, before succumbing to the arrival of The Beatles and beat music.
Add 1: In the early fifties after Donegan was demobbed from National Service he joined Chris Barber and Ken Colyer and others called Ken Colyer's Jazzmen which consisted of Ken Colyer (trumpet), Chris Barber (trombone), Monty Sunshine (clarinet), Lonnie Donegan (banjo), Jim Bray (bass) Dickie Bishop (Guitar) and Ron Bowden (drums). This group recorded two excellent blues numbers with Lonnie Donegan as vocal called "In the evening when de sun go down" and "The Midnight Special" After a year, Ken colyer stormed out of the group and Chris Barber took over.
http://www.p.griggsy.btinternet.co.uk/Untitled/Lonnie.html (Memories of Lonnie Donegan by Paul Griggs)
Harmonica Blues
Lonnie Donegan Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lonnie Donegan:
(In The Evening) When The Sun Goes Down In the evenin', in the evenin' Mama when the sun go…
500 Miles Tear drops fell on mama's note When I read the things…
A Very Good Year When I was seventeen It was a very good year It was…
Ace in the Hole This town is full of guys Who think they're mighty wise, Jus…
Auntie Maggie's Remedy Now theres all sorts of medicines that you can buy No…
Ballad Of Jesse James Jesse James was a man And he killed many men He robbed…
Battle of New Orleans Well, this here's the story about the Battle of New…
Beyond the Sunset Should you go first and I remain to walk the…
Bring A Little Water Silvie Now this here's a story about a man working in…
Bring A Little Watr Sylvie Now this here's a story about a man working in…
Chesapeake Bay 'Round the bend I hear the chuggin' of the steamboat…
Corrine Corrine Corrina, where you been so long? Corrine Corrina, wh…
Cumberland Gap Well, the Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on t…
Cumberland Gap (Remastered) Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on the Cumberla…
Dead or Alive Well the new sheriff sent me a letter Yes the new…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It Oh me oh my oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah, The ques…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour (On the Bedpost Over Night)? Oh me, oh my, oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah The que…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour ? Oh me oh my oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah, The ques…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour on the Bedpost Overnight Oh me, oh my, oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah The que…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavour? Oh me oh my oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah, The ques…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight) Oh me, oh my, oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah The que…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight Oh me oh my oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah, The ques…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?) [Remastered] Oh me, oh my, oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah The que…
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour ? Oh me oh my oh you Whatever shall I do? Hallelujah, The ques…
Don Now , me and my wife went to town (Sail away…
Don't You Roch Me Daddy-O Me and my daddy was coming into town (Sail away lady…
Don't You Rock Me Daddio Now , me and my wife went to town (Sail away…
Don't You Rock Me Daddy Me and my daddy was coming into town (Sail away lady…
Don't you rock me daddy'o Me and my daddy was coming into town (Sail away lady…
Fort Worth Jail Way down in Fort Worth jailhouse feeling mighty low Nobody …
Frankie [L.D.] We'll take it a bit slower This is, this is…
Freight Train This is my island in the sun Where my people have…
Gamblin I've gambled down in Washington And I've gambled up in Maine…
Goodnight Irene Last Saturday night I got married Me and my wife settled…
Grand Coulee Dam Now the world holds seven wonders That the travellers alway…
Ham 'n Eggs Ham and eggs, pork and beans I would′a had more, boys,…
Ham 'N' Eggs Ham and eggs, pork and beans I would'a had more, boys,…
Hard Travellin' I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed I…
Have a Drink on Me In eighteen-eighty down a dusty road Along came a miner with…
I Intro: ("Here's a very good old good one, see if you…
I'll Never Smile Again I'll never smile again Until I smile at you I'll never laugh…
I'm a Ramblin' Man Lord, I was born a ramblin' man Tryin' to make a…
I'm Alabammy Bound I'm Alabamy bound They'll be no heebie-jeebies hangin' 'rou…
I've Got Rocks in My Bed I′ve got rocks in my bed, and I just can't…
Ice Cream You scream, I scream Everybody wants ice cream We'll rock,…
Im Alabamy Bound I'm Alabamy bound I'm Alabamy bound And if the train don't s…
In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down In the evenin′, in the evenin' Mama when the sun go…
Interstate Forty Walkin' down the shoulder of Interstate Forty cussin' every …
It Is No Secret The chimes of time ring out the news Another day is…
It Takes A Worried Man Oh it takes a worried man, sing a worried song Takes…
It's a Long Road to Travel Well I'm travelin' light baby, come on and go with…
Jack O' Diamonds Jack o' diamonds, Jack o' diamonds Jack o' diamonds is a…
Jesse James Jesse James was a man And he killed many men He robbed…
Jimmie Brown the Newsboy I sell the morning papers sir my name is Jimmy…
John Henry John Henry told his little woman Honey cook my supper soon…
Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho Joshua…
Just a Closer Walk With Thee Just a closer walk with Thee Grant it, Jesus, is my…
Just A-Wearying for You Just awearyin' for you All the time afeelin' blue Wishin f…
Keep On The Sunny Side Well there's a dark and a troubled side of life There's…
Leave My Woman Alone If you don't want, you don't have to (get in…
Lemon Tree When I was just a lad of ten, my father…
Light from the Lighthouse Let it shine on, let it shine on Let your light…
Lively Now, "lively" is a funny word It means a lot of…
Lonesome Traveller I'm just a lonely and a lonesome traveller I'm just a…
Lorelei I kissed a girl in Burma, in a town they…
Lost John Ha! This here's a story about, Lost John Lost John done fle…
Lost John [radio broadcast Ha! This here's a story about, Lost John Lost John done …
Louisiana Man Well, at birth mom and papa called their little boy…
Love Is Strange Love Love is strange Many people Take it for a game Once…
Lumbered There are lots of words that mean You've been landed in…
Michael Row The Boat Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah Michael row the boa…
Midnight Special Let the midnight special Let the midnight special Shine its …
Midnight Special [live in Denmark Let the midnight special Let the midnight special Shine it…
Miss Otis Regrets Miss Otis regrets She's unable to lunch today Madam Mis…
Mr. Froggy Mr Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh Mr Froggy…
Mule Skinner Blues Good mornin' Captain, good mornin' shine Good mornin' Capta…
Mule Skinner Blues (Remastered) Good morning, captain Good morning shine Good morning, capta…
My Lagan Love Where Lagan stream sings lullaby There blows a lily fair The…
My Old Man Now here's a little story To tell it is a must About…
Noah Found Grace In the Eyes of the Lord Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Noah found…
Nobody As I was slowly passing An orphans' home one day And…
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows my sorrow …
Nobody Loves Like an Irishman Dum-dum-a-dimmy, dum-a-dum Dum-dum-a-dimmy, dum-a-dum He…
Nobody's Child As I was slowly passing An orphans' home one day And…
Nowbody's Child I was slowly passing an orphan's home one day I stopped…
Ol' Riley Old Riley walked the water In them long hot summer days Ol…
Old Hannah Oh, we call the sun ol′ Hannah Blazing on my head Yes,…
On a Monday On a Monday, I was arrested On a Tuesday, I was…
Over In The New Burying Ground Well, I can hear the hammer ringin' On somebody coffin I c…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Over the Rainbow - Remastered Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, There's a land that …
Party The party's over, it's time to call it a day They've…
Pick a Bale of Cotton Gonna jump down Turn around Pick a bale of cotton Gonna jump…
Precious Memories Precious memories, unseen angels From somewhere to my soul …
Puttin Sweet sixteen goes to church Just to see the boys…
Puttin' On the Style Sweet sixteen goes to church Just to see the boys…
Putting On the Style Sweet sixteen, goes to church just to see the boys Laughs…
Railroad Bill Railroad Bill we're gonna Railroad Bill He never works and h…
Ramblin Lord, I was born a ramblin' man Tryin' to make a…
Ramblin' Round Ramblin' around your city Ramblin' around your town I neve…
Red Berets A forest of crosses near fair Arnhem stand And written ther…
Reverend Mr. Black He rode easy in the saddle, he was tall and…
Rock Island Line Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line The…
Rock My Soul Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham Rock my soul…
Saint Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Sal's Got a Sugar Lip Come here Sally and sweeten your man Sal's got a sugar…
Seven Daffodils Seven golden daffodils Gleaming in the sun To light the way …
She Was T-Bone Talking Woman Walking down the street one day I said, Hey there…
Shorty George Shorty George, he ain't no friend of mine Shorty George, he…
Sing Hallelujah I know I got a long long journey - sing…
Sorry But I'm Gonna Have to Pass Your lips are redder than hers Your lips are softer…
Stack O'Lee Stackolee was a bad man, everybody knows Spent a hundred…
Stackalee Stackolee was a bad man, everybody knows Spent a hundred…
Steal Away Steal Away Steal Away Steal Away Steal Away to Jesus Ste…
Stewball Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were…
Take My Hand Precious Lord At the river, I will stand Guide my feet, hold my…
Take This Hammer Take this hammer take it to the captain take this…
Talking Guitar Blues ‘Ere, if you wanna get in trouble Let me tell you…
The Ballad of Jesse James Jesse James was a man And he killed many men He robbed…
The Battle of New Orleans Well, this here's the story about the Battle of New…
The Gold Rush Is Over Oh well, the gold rush is over so honey bye…
The Grand Coulee Dam Now the world holds seven wonders That the travellers always…
The Midnight Special Let the midnight special Let the midnight special Shine its …
The party The party's over, it's time to call it a day They've…
The Party's Over - Remastered Oh, my friend The party's over It's time to call it a…
The Wreck of the John B. Intro: ("Here's a very good old good one, see if you…
This Train This train don't carry no gamblers, this train …
Tiger Rag Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger! …
Times Are Getting Hard Boys Times are getting hard, boys Money's getting scarce If thi…
Tom Dooley Throughout history there have been many songs Written about…
Trumpet Sounds By a jazz club window a young boy stood one…
Virgin Mary The Virgin Mary had a baby boy The Virgin Mary had…
Wabash Cannonball From the great Atlantic Ocean to the wide Pacific shore From…
We Shall Walk Through The Valley We shall walk through the valley of the shadow of…
Wedding Bells I have the invitation that you sent me You wanted me…
When I Move To The Sky I travel with Jesus honey most of my life Yes I…
When I Move To The Sky [radio broadcast I travel with Jesus honey most of my life Yes I…
When I Was Young When I was young and dreams were new I loved a…
When The Sun Goes Down In the evening in the evening Baby when the sun goes…
World Cup Willie There's a football fellah, you all know his name And the…
Worried Man Blues The train that I ride is twenty one coaches long The…
Wreck of the Old '97 Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia Said, "S…
and many more tracks by Lonnie Donegan.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Mike Hannon
on Wabash Cannonball
If you want the donegan lyrics from the recording this link has provided instead of the johnny cash ones they are as fallows;
Wabash Cannonball
by Lonnie Donegan
She came down from Birmingham, one cold December day
As she rolled into the station, you could hear the people say
That train from Indiana, she's long and she's tall...
That’s a combination called the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she comes down the mountains through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear the lonesome hobos call
He’s racing through the jungle on the Wabash Cannon Ball
From the great Atlantic Ocean to the wide Pacific shore
From the green and flowing mountains to the old mill by the moor
She's long and handsome, and quite well known by all...
That’s a combination called the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she comes down the mountains through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear the lonesome hobos call
He’s racing through the jungle on the Wabash Cannon Ball
Well here's to that old engineer his name will ever stand
And always be remembered in the courts throughout the land
When his mighty race is over and the curtains 'round him fall...
It'll carry him back to dixie on the Wabash Cannon Ball
Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she comes down the mountains through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear the lonesome hobos call
Yeah he’s racing through the jungle on the Wabash Cannon Ball