Vaughn Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was a very popular radio, TV… Read Full Bio ↴Vaughn Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973) was a very popular radio, TV, and recording artist in the 1940s & 1950s. His adopted theme song, "Racing With the Moon", was heard on his radio and TV shows and was a popular song itself. In 1950, his recording of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" (Stan Jones) was a #1 hit for weeks, and it remains the song's standard version today. It was probably his "signature" song.

Monroe sang with some of the "Big Bands" of the '40s era, but his music transcended that style to become a popular radio and television personality - like Perry Como, Dean Martin, etc.

The Battle Of New Orleans
Vaughn Monroe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in a town in New Orleans

We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to runnin'

On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
(One-two-three, with a-one-two-three)

We looked down a river
(Hut-two)
And we see'd the British come
(Three-four)
And there must have been a hundred of'em
(Hut-two)
Beatin' on the drums
(Three-four)
They stepped so high
(Hut-two)
And they made their bugles ring
(Three-four)
We stood by our cotton bales
(Hut-two)
And didn't say a thing
(Two-three-four)

We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to runnin'
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico

Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise
(One-hut, two-three-four)
If we didn't fire our muskets
(One-hut, two-three-four)
'Till we looked 'em in the eye
(One-hut, two-three-four)
We held our fire
(Hut, two-three-four)
'Till we see'd their faces well
Then we opened up our squirrel guns
And really gave 'em - well we

Fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to runnin'
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico

Yeah, they ran through the briars
(One-hup-two)
And they ran through the brambles
(Hup-two-three-four)
And they ran through the bushes
(Hup-two)
Where the rabbit couldn't go
(Hup-two-three-four)
They ran so fast
(Hup-two)
That the hounds couldn't catch 'em
(One-two-three-four)
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
(One-two, hup-two-three-four)

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round
We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off the gator lost his mind

We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to runnin'
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico

Yeah, they ran through the briars
(Hup-one-two)
And they ran through the brambles
(One-two-three-four)
And they ran through the bushes
(Hup-two)
Where the rabbit couldn't go
(Hup-two-three-four)
They ran so fast
(Hup-two)
That the hounds couldn't catch 'em
(One-two-three-four)
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
(One-two, hup-two-three-four)

Hut-two-three-four
Sound off, three-four
Hut-two-three-four
Sound off, three-four

Hut-two-three-four
Hut-two-three-four.

Overall Meaning

The Battle Of New Orleans is a 1959 song performed by Vaughn Monroe. The song tells the story of the American victory in the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812, under the leadership of General Andrew Jackson. The United States was primarily a young nation, and had only recently emerged victorious in its war for independence from Great Britain. The song describes the battle from the perspective of the American soldiers, who had taken a little trip down the Mississippi with Colonel Jackson. They had taken a little bacon and beans, and ultimately caught the British in a town in New Orleans.

The song describes the battle as a fierce one, with the British soldiers coming in waves. The Americans fired their guns multiple times, causing the British to eventually retreat down the Mississippi River. The lyrics highlight how the Americans were able to take the British by surprise, not firing their muskets until they could see the enemy's faces clearly. The final verse of the song is a bit more colorful, describing how the Americans fired their cannon until the barrel melted down and even fought alligators. The song ends triumphantly with the British retreat down the Mississippi.

Line by Line Meaning

In 1814 we took a little trip
In 1814, we went on a journey

Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip
Together with Colonel Jackson, we traveled along the mighty Mississippi river

We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
We carried some bacon and beans for our journey

And we caught the bloody British in town in New Orleans
We captured the British in a place called New Orleans

We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'
We shot our guns, but the British kept advancing

There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
The British had fewer soldiers than before

We fired once more and they begin to runnin'
We fired again and they started retreating

On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
They retreated down the Mississippi river towards the Gulf of Mexico

We looked down a river
We saw a sight along the river

And we see'd the British come
We saw the British coming towards us

And there must have been a hundred of 'em
There were around 100 British soldiers

Beatin' on the drums
They were playing drums as they marched

They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring
Their steps were high and they played their bugles loudly

We stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing
We remained silent and stood behind our cotton bales

Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise
Old Hickory (Andrew Jackson) suggested that we could surprise them

If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye
We were advised not to shoot until we saw their eyes

We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well
We waited to see their faces clearly before shooting

Then we opened up our squirrel guns and really gave 'em - well we
We used our squirrel guns to attack them

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
The British ran through thorny bushes and shrubs

And they ran through the bushes where the rabbit couldn't go
They even ran through bushes that rabbits couldn't enter

They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
They ran so quickly that the hunting dogs couldn't catch them

On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
They continued to retreat down the river towards the Gulf of Mexico

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down
We kept firing our cannon until its barrel melted

So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round
We used an alligator to fight another battle

We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
We put cannonballs in its head and gunpowder on its behind

And when we touched the powder off the gator lost his mind
When we lit the gunpowder, the alligator went crazy

Hut-two-three-four Sound off, three-four
Military marching instructions to keep marching to the beat 'Hut-two-three-four' and to acknowledge with 'three-four'

Hut-two-three-four Hut-two-three-four.
Military marching instructions to keep marching to the beat 'Hut-two-three-four'

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Morris

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@GeorgeVreelandHill

13y↑3

Vaughn Monroe had an amazing voice. My dad loved Racing with the Moon. Thank you for posting this. George Vreeland Hill

@kf001u1894

14y↑1

Only found this version today,and I like it.I v'e always played the Lonnie Donegan version

@GOOSEYGOOSE9

6y↑1

Vaughn Monroe Is A Singer Better Than Today's Music And You Know.

@GOOSEYGOOSE9

6y↑2

Vaughn Monroe Sing Some Good Music.

@johnjurkewicz9925

6y↑1

truly a great song

@GOOSEYGOOSE9

6y↑1

Vaughn Monroe Sang Some Good Music.Better Than The Songs Of Today.

@markalson1938

12y↑2

Thanks, I have the book of Bubbling Under, I just over looked it THANKS. noq I have to go out and find a copy of that recording

@1adebarde

9y↑11

Nice to hear someone who sings like a man and not some whiney effeminate voice.

@cjr4286

^^This

@Eddythebeast666

13y↑1

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent. Today we remember. Solemn Greetings on this Remembrance Veterans Poppy Armistice Day to all nations. And for the for Americans/Canadians Please accept my salute on the anniversary of the Battle of Crysler's Farm Nov 11 1813.

@GOOSEYGOOSE9

6y↑1

Vaughn Monroe RIP.

@johnmaloney67

16y

it was not his last chart hit oh no there wer others like 1965's queen of the prom that charted and duble dutch a..and ..others..on dot early 60's that charted in canada charts and hot 100 USA and bublng under chars and Australian charts too. a great singer thanks for posting.

@christof139

14y↑1

Song was written by Johnny Driftwood.

@christof139

13y↑1

@louislungbubble, The USA heavy battery on the west bank had done severe damage during the main Brit assault, & the Brits didn't have enough boats gathered in time to cross the river to capture it until late in the battle. The battery was lightly defended. A surprise Brit attack by about 4 Co.'s of Jamaican Rangers on the USA redoubt on the east bank was beaten off by 2 USA Co.'s in close combat. Then the Brit Inf. Regt. assigned to carry ladders to cross the Rodriguez Canal forgot most of them

@markalson1938

16y

I don't have a book on the Canada or Australian charts I do on the British Charts. My U.S. Top 100 only went to 1960 so you can see how old that one is. And Yes I looked and he one one on the Bubbling under the 100. I thought I had most of Vaughn's recordings but I have never heard of the "Queen Of The Prom" It sure doesn't sound like a Monroe type song, but then neither did "Black Demen Jacket" or "In The Middle Of The House" till he did them.

@christof139

14y↑1

Yes, the Brits in the main attack force did indeed skedaddle, ran away, retreated in a hurry, because they were shot to ribbons & at points repelled in close combat. The USA arty. redoubt had already done great damage by enfilade fire to the main Brit assault & was lightly defended. The Brits didn't have enough boats to cross the river in force & had to cross in relays, while the Brit regt. in the main assault forgot moost of the ladders needed to get across the Rodriguez Canal.

@markalson1938

13y↑1

@TejasBob This is a song, not a history lesson. It is not ment to be taken literly after all no one saw davy Crockett kill himself a bear when he was only three. The worst part of this Battle was the War was over two weeks before the Battle began. All those men died in vain

@christof139

14y

@louislungbubble, On the day of the main Brit Inf. assault, the surprise attack on the USA redoubt on the river bank anchoring the west end of the USA line was beaten off by the out numbered USA defenders in close combat. We can talk about AWI Batlles too: Princeton, Germantown, Brandywine, Monmouth, Cowpens, King's Mtn., Breed's Hill, Bennington, Saratoga, Assunpink Creek or the 2nd Battle of Trenton, Stony Point, Paulus Hook, Eutaw Springs, Hobkirk's Hill, Guilford Court House, etc.

@christof139

14y

@louislungbubble, During the USA 1861-65 civil war the term for fleeing, retreating, running away - & quickly at that, discretion is sometimes the better part of valor, is 'skedaddle'. Skedaddling occurs frequently in all wars, etc.

@markalson1938

12y↑1

What was the recording? I haven't all of Vaughn's recordings but most from the 1950's None of the reference materal I have lists any after This recording.

@christof139

14y

@louislungbubble, Previous to the assault, the day or so before, the USA arty. damaged & drove off the Brit arty., so it was reduced in effectiveness during the Brit assault. The Brit fleet was also driven off at the old Spanish Fort. There were only a couple of USA inf. coys. on the west bank, & when the Brits finally ferried their troops across the river to overwhelm the USA battery it was too late.

@louislungbubble

14y

@christof139 i dont dispute the british lost the battle..i just raised the lyrics of this song in its interpritation of history.yes the 44th foot left the ladders behind,broke and fled..the no1 redoubt was taken by the british and retaken quickly because the supporting 93rd foot were diverted away to assist the british right. the 93rd did not loose thier shiny coats or get chased by hound dogs...they stood on the field in perfect disclipline and were shot to pieces. .regards..marty

@christof139

14y↑1

@louislungbubble, 'Genius' in the sense I use it is a sarcastic sense. The song implies joy at winning the battle, even though it was written ~140-years later. Many arrogant type Brits frequently infer that USAers & the French & Spainiards & most other folks are cowards so ... However, this is just a funny song, & the Irish & quite a few Scots like it, as do many French, Spainiards etc. Ever wonder why?

@markalson1938

14y

If you would take another look you will find that I added "Hercules" several months ago to YT. You have to go in several pages on Vaughn's site to find it.

@louislungbubble

14y↑1

@BroughamConspiracy whats this?? no one is disputing the american victory or the failure of the conduct of the battle on the british side....i am disputing the message of the song who,s words were written by a history teacher to help educate schoolchildren about the war of 1812. everyone knows this song......why not...its a great song to listen to...but a lot of people know the battle of new orleans only by this song not from academic study.

@louislungbubble

14y↑1

@BroughamConspiracy what myths have i written mate?..its a myth that the brits "ran away like billy goats" after two volleys..theodore roosevelt who was a true patriot as you know wrote in his book "the naval war of 1812" not only high praise for the bravery of some of the british infantry that day..but he called the conduct of the kentucky and new orleans militia on the west bank of the river "a disgrace to the american arms"

@GOOSEYGOOSE9

6y↑1

Johnny Horton Sang Vaughn Monroe's Song.

@louislungbubble

14y↑1

@christof139 yes the sarcasm was obvious..what is not obvious is why you would be sarcastic at all..as to the song ..i happen to like it as a song...just not the slander on the britsh infantry penned by a history teacher..ill quote another historian ,theodore roosevelt , he wrote about the 93rd foot in this battle " but in vain the stubborn mountaineers rushed on,only to die as their comrades had died before them,with unconquerable courage, facing their foe to the last"...marty

@thincow12

14y

yeah right! England is actually one of our colonies. God Bless America

@Rikki0

13y↑1

@stephenbiboy " The original terrorists and traitors" ? What an odd thing for you to say. You used to be proud of the fact that " the sun never sets on the British empire ". Did all those countries and people come to you and ask to be part of your empire or were they persuaded by Brown Bess, pitch capping, hanging, etc. I would hazard that the Irish, Scotish, Zulus, Indians, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. (ad infinitum) might differ with your assesment.

@markalson1938

14y

@louislungbubble History is always written by the winning side and from this always comes miths that may not tell the whole story.

@BroughamConspiracy

14y↑1

@louislungbubble took their guns and colors back home as living proof that the skirmish/attrition techniques perfected by the Kentucky irregulars were spot on devastating against lackluster tactics the "brilliant" Brits borrowed from the Romans. Change is good sometimes. Did you really just write "miths"?

@markalson1938

16y

If you didn't know in the Old days there would be several versions of the same song. It seems every record company would come out with their recording. You picked the one you liked. That didn't make one better or worse than the other. sometimes it mattered if you were a country fan, jazz or 50's pop. I take it your country me I'm 50's Pop.

@christof139

13y↑1

@louislungbubble, IOTW, the Brits got their rear ends handed to them due to their own lack of organization & overconfidence. The USA defensive line was built over a period of ~1-week & was vey strong with much arty. emplaced along it. The USA arty. & Brit arty. dueled before the battle & the brit. arty. withdrew. During the main assault the intense fire & slaughter at some points was great & many USA troops had tears in their eyes as they fired. The Brits eventually broke & ran.

@louislungbubble

14y↑1

@christof139 why and how do you define me as a genius?? i never stated that you said the british were cowards..the song implies cowardice on the part of the british..thats what i raised here...i suppose thats why were having this discussion...this song was written by a history teacher and a lot of people only know the new orleans campaign by this song....marty

@christof139

14y

@louislungbubble, The redoubt on the west bank was weakly held genius, & by the time the Brits finally managed to take it it didn't matter. I never said the brits were cowards, but I did say they ran, fled after being shot to ribbons & at points being repelled in close combat. Happens to everyone at one time or another in a war. RN's attack on Spanish Fort was also repelled. The whole campaign was a Brit disaster, a fiasco.

@louislungbubble

14y

@christof139 even in defeat the british took honours from the field in the form of a 10 inch howizer captured by the americans at yorktown and the colours of the new orleans militia taken when the americans were driven from the redoubt on the west bank..the british won at the battle of lake bourgne in dec. and after the battle the british still took fort bowyer so they had some limited successes in this disaster of a campaign....the british defeat is without doubt but they were not cowards.

@louislungbubble

14y

musically its a great song but its a slander on the soldiers on the british army who did not run away..but were shot to hell on the field waiting for orders to retreat....the british casualty list speaks for itself..on the west bank of the river it was the new orleans and kentucky militia who ran away...the british took thier guns and colours to prove it.......marty

@markalson1938

14y

@stephenbiboy A bunch of Redcoats come over 3 thousand miles and burn the White House then attack New Orleans and you call Jackson and his ragtag army TERRORIST. You LOST get over it.

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