The Battle of New Orleans (British Version)

[+ Avalon]

 

There are two sides to every story ;-)))

[+ azdr0710]

Three sides to every story, usually!!

[+ Charlie]

Although I remember hearing this song when I was younger, this is the first time I have ever listened to the words as an historical narrative, and it is strange. There were no "rebels" involved: it was a battle between the armies of two independent nations. Why it is called a "British version" is a mystery, since the singer is obviously an American giving the American perspective.

[+ azdr0710]

Just now watched this. Yes, Charlie is correct. Very well-known song by Johnny Horton from the early 1960s and decidedly pro-US. Don't know why the YouTuber calls this the "British version" . Picky geography nerd that I am, I bristled when a map of the entire Mississippi River system was repeatedly shown representing the British "running down the Mississippi". Nice chance for the YouTuber to assemble some stills, I guess

[+ Avalon]

Here is the original (American) version

 

[+ ArVaGuy]

Both versions of this song were recorded by Johnny Horton. The song won a Grammy in 1960 for Best Country Western song. The “British version” was released in the Commonwealth nations and was just as popular as the original. I remember hearing this song a lot when I was a kid in Louisiana. Horton was a rising star on the Louisiana Hayride and died in a car accident in 1960 shortly after recording this song.

 

Years later, I would see his widow Billie Jean Horton at the department store where i worked in Shreveport. She was certifiably eccentric to say the least. She used to drive a white Excalibur around town.

 

Horton is buried in the same cemetery as my parents. Billie Jean had a guitar-shaped floral display on his grave for decades. Recently, due to complaints, the huge guitar display was replaced by a marble bench with a guitar engraving. I’m not sure why there were complaints but that floral display was changed out regularly for at least fifty years.

[+ azdr0710]

.

 

http://www.texasescapes.com/ClayCoppedge/The-Eerie-Demise-of-Johnny-Horton.htm

 

http://www.gendisasters.com/texas/9255/milano-tx-singer-johnny-horton-dies-in-auto-accident-nov-1960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and for hardcore fans....55 minutes of rare video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow_Dk4E33X4

Edited April 28, 2018 by azdr0710

[+ Avalon]

Both versions of this song were recorded by Johnny Horton. The song won a Grammy in 1960 for Best Country Western song. The “British version” was released in the Commonwealth nations and was just as popular as the original. I remember hearing this song a lot when I was a kid in Louisiana. Horton was a rising star on the Louisiana Hayride and died in a car accident in 1960 shortly after recording this song.

 

Years later, I would see his widow Billie Jean Horton at the department store where i worked in Shreveport. She was certifiably eccentric to say the least. She used to drive a white Excalibur around town.

 

Horton is buried in the same cemetery as my parents. Billie Jean had a guitar-shaped floral display on his grave for decades. Recently, due to complaints, the huge guitar display was replaced by a marble bench with a guitar engraving. I’m not sure why there were complaints but that floral display was changed out regularly for at least fifty years.

 

I had not realized that both were by Horton. Thank-you!

[P Gren]

Three sides to every story, usually!!

I, generally, can see both sides of both sides

[+ Charlie]

Aha! The "British" version substitutes "rebels" for "bloody British," to obscure who the opposing forces were for the non-American audience.

[marylander1940]

Three sides to every story, usually!!

 

Please... they're famous for writing history to make themselves look more brave, they never had the biggest army in any battle.

How many Americans still believe the "Spanish Armada" was defeated and completely destroyed, it lost 30% of its ships during a storm and had to go around the British Islands to come back to Spain. Besides they English counterattack was one of the greatest disasters in military history and they got defeated by an army, not a storm.

[+ Avalon]

Please... they're famous for writing history to make themselves look more brave, they never had the biggest army in any battle.

How many Americans still believe the "Spanish Armada" was defeated and completely destroyed, it lost 30% of its ships during a storm and had to go around the British Islands to come back to Spain. Besides they English counterattack was one of the greatest disasters in military history and they got defeated by an army, not a storm.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada

[marylander1940]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Armada

Oops did I forget to mention they had their asses kicked by a woman and by a guy with one hand and one leg?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/María_Pita

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_de_Lezo

2 more memorable defeats...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_invasions_of_the_River_Plate

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vuelta_de_Obligado

[+ azdr0710]

Aha! The "British" version substitutes "rebels" for "bloody British," to obscure who the opposing forces were for the non-American audience.

 

good ear!.....I wasn't listening that hard as it sounded like the same tune to me!.......that Youtuber is excused!......wondering if Johnny Horton recorded two different versions for varying sensitive audiences!?

[+ Avalon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Armada

Oops did I forget to mention they had their asses kicked by a woman and by a guy with one hand and one leg?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/María_Pita

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_de_Lezo

2 more memorable defeats...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_invasions_of_the_River_Plate

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vuelta_de_Obligado

 

Muchas Gracias. Great, interesting reading!