Their name was taken from Newfoundland history; many years ago, it was common for outport Newfoundlanders to raise sheep, but very few families had a ram. The government stepped in, and purchased rams that would be sent, on request, to different areas of the province to help the sheep population.
Johnny Bucker
The Government Rams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As long as he had perfect health
Then one day he took himself a wife
For to look after him for the rest of his life.
Singing I do believe, I do believe
Old Johnny Bucker was a gay old bugger
And a gay old bugger was he
Now old Mrs. Bucker she had a bad leg
And the doctor ordered her to bed
He called for Johnny and he said to him
You'll have to rub you're old wife's leg with gin.
Singing I do believe, I do believe
Old Johnny Bucker was a gay old bucka
And a gay old bucka was he.
Now old Johnny Bucker thought it would be a sin
To rub his old wife's leg with gin
So he got the gin and he poured it down his throttle
And he rubbed his old wife's leg with the bottle
Singing I do believe, I do believe
Old Johnny Bucker was a gay old bucker
And a gay old bucka was he.
Now old Johnny Bucka went walking that day
And down by the river he happened to stray
He fell in and he began to shout
But there's no bugger there to pull the bugger out.
Singing I do believe, I do believe
Old Johnny Buckwr was a gay old bucker
And a gay old bucker was he.
Oh the Lord made bees and the bees made honey
And the Lord made a man of the man who made honey
Oh the Lord made the devil and the devil made sin
And they had to dig a hole for to put the bugger in.
Singing I do believe, I do believe
Old Johnny Bucker was a gay old bucker
And a gay old bucker was he.
The Government Rams's song "Johnny Bucker" tells the story of a man who lived alone until he got married in hopes that his wife would take care of him. However, his wife becomes ill and the doctor prescribes gin rubs for her ailing leg. Old Johnny Bucker, finding it sinful to rub his wife's leg with gin, drinks the gin and uses the bottle to rub her leg instead. The song takes a dark turn as Johnny falls into a river and drowned as there was nobody there to pull him out.
The lyrics of the song seem to be lighthearted, with frequent repetitions of "I do believe, I do believe, old Johnny Bucker was a gay old bugger, and a gay old bugger was he." However, the story itself is quite dark and tragic. The song touches on themes of marriage, duty, illness, and death, and the juxtaposition of the upbeat melody and the somber lyrics creates a powerful contrast.
Line by Line Meaning
Well old Johnny Bucker he lived by himself,
Johnny Bucker lived alone until he got married.
As long as he had perfect health
Johnny was healthy before he got married.
Then one day he took himself a wife
Johnny got married.
For to look after him for the rest of his life.
He got married to have someone to care for him.
Singing I do believe, I do believe
Refrain of the song.
Old Johnny Bucker was a gay old bugger
Johnny was a happy and lively person.
And a gay old bugger was he
Refrain of the song.
Now old Mrs. Bucker she had a bad leg
Johnny's wife had a bad leg.
And the doctor ordered her to bed
The doctor advised bed rest for her.
He called for Johnny and he said to him
The doctor asked Johnny to help his wife.
You'll have to rub you're old wife's leg with gin.
The doctor recommended that Johnny rub his wife's leg with gin.
Now old Johnny Bucker thought it would be a sin
Johnny considered it wrong to rub his wife's leg with gin.
To rub his old wife's leg with gin
Johnny was hesitant to follow the doctor's advice.
So he got the gin and he poured it down his throttle
Instead, Johnny drank the gin himself.
And he rubbed his old wife's leg with the bottle
Johnny rubbed his wife's leg with the bottle.
Now old Johnny Bucka went walking that day
Johnny went for a walk one day.
And down by the river he happened to stray
He went near the river.
He fell in and he began to shout
Johnny fell in the river and called for help.
But there's no bugger there to pull the bugger out.
Nobody was around to help Johnny out of the river.
Oh the Lord made bees and the bees made honey
This is a random line that does not relate to the story.
And the Lord made a man of the man who made honey
This is a random line that does not relate to the story.
Oh the Lord made the devil and the devil made sin
This is a random line that does not relate to the story.
And they had to dig a hole for to put the bugger in.
This is a random line that does not relate to the story.
Contributed by Blake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.