Song 5: Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier

After much use of Google, I could not find the exact date that this song was created, however, given that it is Mark O'Connor, I would guess approximately 1997, give or take a few years (see song 4). The song originally comes from the American Revolution era, so it is a traditional song. It tells the story of "Johnny", who has entered the war effort (obviously the American revolution, but the story can really be applied to any war). By telling the story from the girl's (presumably, by the lyrics, Johnny's lover) perspective, it is evident how war completely disrupts the pattern of everyday life for everyone, not just the soldiers themselves.

This song tells the story of the other side of war, that death is involved, and families get broken up for many years, and possibly forever. Obviously this is strikingly grim compared to the glorious view of taking up arms to serve one's country, as it is a duty. I personally haven't experienced any war tragedies in my family, but I am sure that anyone who has lost a loved one in war can relate to the story of Johnny. War is scary, and while, from a historical standpoint, it can drastically shape the fates of nations, it still drastically alters the perspectives and lifestyles of anyone involved. This song still reflects the American ideals of sacrifice, but it reveals that, when a person is called to duty, accepting the duty of nationhood is not as easy as it may seem.