Whisky Johnny O'
Michiel Schrey Lyrics
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Whiskey, Johnny!
O, whiskey is the life of man,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
O, I drink whiskey when I can
Whiskey, Johnny!
I drink whiskey from an old tin can,
Whiskey gave me a broken nose!
Whiskey, Johnny!
Whiskey made me pawn my clothes,
Whiskey for me Johnny O!
Whiskey drove me around Cape Horn.
Whiskey, Johnny!
It was many a month when I was gone,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
I thought I heard the old man say;
Whiskey, Johnny!
I'll treat my crew in a decent way,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
A glass of grog for every man!
Whiskey, Johnny!
And a bottle for the chanteyman.
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
The song "Whiskey Johnny O" by Michiel Schrey, Sean Dagher & Nils Brown is a traditional drinking song that tells the story of a sailor who loves his whiskey. The repeated refrain "Whiskey for my Johnny O!" emphasizes the importance of whiskey in the sailor’s life. However, the verses also caution against the dangers of drinking too much.
The first verse establishes the central theme of the song - whiskey is the life of man. The second verse acknowledges that the sailor drinks whiskey whenever he can, even from an old tin can. The third verse reveals the consequences of drinking too much - a broken nose and the need to pawn his clothes. The fourth verse references the sailor’s travels, as he is driven around Cape Horn by whiskey over the course of several months.
The final verse suggests a more positive spin on whiskey - the old man vows to treat his crew well by providing them with grog and, of course, whiskey. The song implies that whiskey can be both a good and a bad thing, depending on how it is used.
Overall, "Whiskey Johnny O" is a catchy and fun song that celebrates the joys of drinking while also acknowledging its risks and potential consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Whiskey is the life of man,
Whiskey holds an immense significance in a man's existence,
Whiskey, Johnny!
I am calling out to my friend Johnny who I associate with whiskey consumption,
O, whiskey is the life of man,
Oh, how important whiskey is to a man's life,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
I am offering a glass of whiskey to my friend Johnny,
O, I drink whiskey when I can
Whenever I get the chance, I indulge in drinking whiskey,
Whiskey, Johnny!
I am referring to Johnny when it comes to drinking whiskey too,
I drink whiskey from an old tin can,
My whiskey-drinking experience is not lavish as I drink from an old tin can,
Whiskey gave me a broken nose!
I suffered physical harm from drinking whiskey, resulting in a broken nose,
Whiskey, Johnny!
I am reminding Johnny again of the association between him and whiskey,
Whiskey made me pawn my clothes,
I lost control over myself and ended up pawning my clothes to satiate my craving for whiskey,
Whiskey for me Johnny O!
I am sharing my whiskey bottle with Johnny,
Whiskey drove me around Cape Horn.
I took a risky journey around Cape Horn fueled by my addiction to whiskey,
Whiskey, Johnny!
I am still associating Johnny with whiskey in every mention,
It was many a month when I was gone,
My whiskey-driven journey took me away for many months,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
I cannot help but again offer my friend Johnny some whiskey,
I thought I heard the old man say;
I heard an older man saying something that got my attention,
Whiskey, Johnny!
Even though it may not make sense at this moment, I am still calling out to Johnny in every line,
I'll treat my crew in a decent way,
The older man promised to treat his crew in a fair and respectful manner,
Whiskey for my Johnny O!
Again, whiskey is being offered to Johnny even though the conversation has shifted to the old man and his crew,
A glass of grog for every man!
The older man intends to provide his crew a glass of grog each as a reward,
Whiskey, Johnny!
I cannot seem to stop calling out to Johnny every time whiskey is mentioned,
And a bottle for the chanteyman.
The chanteyman, who sings sea shanties for the crew, is being given a bottle of whiskey as a special reward.
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Edward Kenway
WHISKEYYY JOHNNYYYYY
Edward Kenway
Whiskey for me Johnny ooooooooo