The Battle of New Orleans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "The Battle of New Orleans"
Single by Johnny Horton
B-side	"All for the Love of a Girl"
Released	April 6, 1959
Recorded	1959
Genre	Country
Length	2:33
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Jimmy Driftwood
Producer(s)	Don Law
Johnny Horton singles chronology
"When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" (1959) "The Battle of New Orleans" (1959) "Johnny Reb" (1959)

"The Battle of New Orleans" is a famous song written by Jimmy Driftwood. It tells the story of the Battle of New Orleans from the point of view of an American soldier. The song uses a fun, lighthearted tone, making the historical event sound quite comical.

Many artists have recorded this song, but the most well-known version is by Johnny Horton. His recording became a huge hit in 1959, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Billboard magazine even named it the top song of 1959. It was very popular with teenagers in the late 1950s and early 1960s, even though rock and roll music was usually more popular then.

Johnny Horton's version starts with a short musical part from the song "Dixie." It ends with the sound of an officer counting off for marching, as the music slowly fades away.

Billboard magazine looked at the top songs from the first 50 years of its Hot 100 chart. "The Battle of New Orleans" was ranked as the 28th most popular song overall. It was also named the number-one country music song to ever appear on that chart.

The Western Writers of America group also picked this song as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

The Story Behind the Song

The music for "The Battle of New Orleans" comes from an old fiddle tune called "The 8th of January." This date is important because it's when the real Battle of New Orleans happened.

How a Teacher Made History Fun

Jimmy Driftwood, who wrote the song, was a school principal in Arkansas. He loved history and wanted to make it exciting for his students. So, he took the story of the battle and set it to the tune of "The 8th of January." His idea worked! Students became more interested in history, and Driftwood became known for his historical songs.

In the late 1950s, a music producer named Don Warden discovered Jimmy Driftwood. Soon after, Driftwood signed a recording contract with RCA. In 1958, he recorded 12 songs, including his famous "The Battle of New Orleans."

Where You Might Hear It

You might hear "The Battle of New Orleans" played at sporting events across North America. It's a song that gets people excited!

Song Success on Music Charts

Music charts show how popular a song is. Here's how "The Battle of New Orleans" did on different charts around the world.

Other Versions of the Song

Even though Johnny Horton's 1959 recording is the most famous, many other artists have covered "The Battle of New Orleans."

Famous Covers and Remakes

Johnny Horton's version changed some of the original lyrics. For example, he removed some mild curse words and a few historical details. He even recorded a special version for countries like the United Kingdom. In that version, he changed the word "British" to "Rebels" to avoid sounding rude about the British.

Here are some other notable artists who have recorded this song:

• In the United States, Vaughn Monroe released his version in 1959. It wasn't as big a hit as Horton's, but it still made it onto the Hot 100 chart.
• In Britain, Lonnie Donegan and his Skiffle Group also released a version in 1959. Their version was very popular, reaching number two on the charts. It even starts with Lonnie Donegan explaining that the British lost the battle.
• Pete Seeger and Frank Hamilton included the song on their 1959 album Nonesuch and Other Folk Tunes.
• The Royal Guardsmen covered the song on their 1966 album Snoopy vs. the Red Baron.
• Harpers Bizarre had a small hit with their unique version from their 1968 album The Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre.
• Johnny Cash included his version on his 1972 album America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song.
• The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had a minor hit with their version in 1974.
• Dolly Parton performed the song on her TV show Dolly in 1976/1977.
• Deep Purple included a version of the song on their 2021 covers album Turning to Crime.

Fun Parodies

A parody is a funny imitation of something, often a song, that changes the words to make a joke. "The Battle of New Orleans" has inspired several parodies.

"The Battle of Kookamonga"

The country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro created a hit parody called "The Battle of Kookamonga." This song was released in 1959. Instead of a battle, it describes a funny scene at a campground where Boy Scouts chase after Girl Scouts.

Other Funny Parodies

• "The Battle of the Waikato" by Howard Morrison Quartet, 1960.
• "Deer Hunter's Lament" by Stew Clayton, 1973.
• "La Batalla del Cinco de Mayo" by the Mexican group El Tren, 1980, which tells the story of Cinco de Mayo.
• "The New Battle of New Orleans," by Ray Stevens, 2005, which talks about Hurricane Katrina.
• "The Falklands War Song" tells the story of the Falklands War from the British side.