Hoosen Johnny

HOOSEN JOHNNY Traditional

The great poet and folk music collector Carl Sandburg included this in his classic book, “The American Songbag” and had this to say:

“Lawyers sat around the wood stoves of the taverns and hotels of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Illinois and sang this on many a winter’s night. Lincoln heard it often. It was a favorite of his singing friend with the banjo, Ward Hill Lamon … The song became a favorite with the lawyers traveling the circuit in those days and was often sung on convivial occasions.”

While running for president in 1860, Lincoln told a young girl that he had played the jaw harp or Jew’s harp as a circuit riding lawyer. I’ve performed it here on that instrument.