Johnny the Horse

About Johnny the Horse

"Johnny the Horse" is a single by British band Madness from their 1999 album Wonderful. The song struggled to make an impact in the charts after the success of "Lovestruck", and peaked at #44 in the UK Singles Chart. Carl Smyth explained that "The song Johnny the Horse was inspired by a couple of tramps who I used to see often sitting and drinking cheap booze on a wall locally. One day one of them was crying and, after asking him what was the problem, he told me that his friend had been beaten and killed whilst trying to sleep in an empty building. The name is the kind of tag that Scots or Irish might give to a strong drinking hard man type." Another quote states that "...it's funny how people's lives can unravel y'know. So that's what it's about. Who remembers them, they've had a life and then sort of fall between the cracks." Although bonus track "You're Wonderful" is listed as a remix, this is the only version of the song to be released. There is also a 'radio edit' of the single, where the line "Johnny the Horse was kicked to death, he died for entertainment" is replaced by the line "Johnny the Horse, who passed this way, he died for entertainment ". This radio edit also appeared on the 2010 reissue of "Wonderful". more »

Year:

1999

3:19

175 Views

Playlists:

#7

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Johnny the horse was kicked to death
He died for entertainment

Would you believe he came out well
He had a bright inquiring mind
His family knew that he'd go far
If he applied his time

But he started out
Standing on corners
And talking out loud, too loud
You see he couldn't believe in himself the world
Or anything he heard

It seems a million years ago
That he left his life behind
The moment came for him to go
He said goodbye to his wife and child

He started out walking
He never looked back
It was too much pain
Between Glasgow and London
One hot summer he forgot his name

Can you remember his name?
Doo doodle eh do do 
Doo doodle eh do do 
Ditto Woooh!
Ditto Woooh!
Can you remember?

He started out standing on corners
And talking out loud, too loud
You see he couldn't believe in himself the world
Or anything he heard

Can you remember his name?
Doo doodle eh do do
Doo doodle eh do do
Ditto Woooh!
Ditto Woooh!
Will you remember?

Will you remember his name?
Doo doodle eh do do
Doo doodle eh do do
Ditto Woooh!
Can you remember?

Doo doodle eh do do
Doo doodle eh do do
Ditto Woooh!

He took his battered bones and broken dreams to Regents Park at sunset

Will you remember?
Doo doodle eh do do 
Doo doodle eh do do
Ditto Woooh!

Will you remember his name?
Doo doodle eh do do
Doo doodle eh do do
Ditto Woooh!

Will you remember?
Doo doodle eh do do
Doo doodle eh do do
Ditto Woooh!

Johnny the horse was kicked to death
He died for entertainment

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Madness

Madness are an English ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s 2 Tone ska revival, they continue to perform with their most recognised line-up of seven members. more »

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