I remember doing this in Jr High school. This was in the 70's. Back then, the guys hated it, but I had spotted a cute little phillie that I got the gooo goo eyes for; so after we had done this oh Johnny thing a couple of times, we broke off into sets of couples for other square dance stuff. The partner that we ended up with was our last corner person. So I got so many girls ahead of the little sweet one that I liked, and I timed it out, so that she was my last corner, that I would remain with for the rest of the P.E. period of square dancing. Oh she was such a pretty little thing! Her friends told me that she liked me too, but being the shy, timid, kids that we all were back then, I never asked her to be my girlfriend, and after that quarter of P.E. was over, I didn't really see her as much. Then years later, after we all had graduated high school, I was working with a drywall company, and we had to do some repair work in a restaurant near the airport in our city, and I saw that sweet little phillie working there. By then, the years had passed and I never said anything to her. She was my first puppy love little sweet thing, but it never went beyond Oh Johnny Oh Johnny Oh! Oh and I actually did like the square dancing, even as a kid, because it allowed me to touch the hands of the girls and hold them, even just for a moment. Yeah, square dancing is good!
I never learnt life skills, how to cope with depression, and how to do a resume and apply for a job! But I sleep well knowing I learnt this and french!
These are the lyrics I learned in Canada when I was a kid: All join hands and circle the ring, Stop where you are, give your partner a swing, Swing that left-hand girl, Then your own when you get home, Alaman left with that sweet corner girl, Do-si-do your own, Then you all promenade with that sweet corner maid, Singing “O Johnny O Johnny O”! It was a little simpler than the one above, but I’m sure it’s just one of many versions out there!
Haven't seen or done this dance in many years. Nice to see it still being done. Loved the live music. Too bad we didn't get to see the band. Nice clear instructions by the caller. I'm a caller from Michigan.
Now you all join hands and you circle the ring You stop where you are and give your honey swing You swing that little gal behind you You swing your own as you go out to meet her Then alemande left with that corner gal And do-si-do your own Then you all promenade with that sweet corner maid Singing Oh Johnny Oh Johnny Oh
I try to click on dance instructions - but it won’t open anything. Can you repost? Thank you! Oops sorry - meant to ask for the dance instructions for O Susannah!
You should put a link to your website in the notes so lazy people like me don't have to type the whole thing in. Just type the full url including the h t t p part and youtube will turn it into a link.
Eric Winders, you are correct. those were the lyrics I sang for my Mum and Dad around 1953. They belonged to a Square Dance Club in Adelaide and I used to watch and sing along as their set practiced the latest routines. (I was seven years old) Jim Vickers-Willis regularly came over from Melbourne to call for around 2,000 dancers at the Palais Royal. Great days.
I learned this on grade school many years ago. About 10 years ago, my mother was in a nursing home and I joined her for lunch. We were seated man, woman, man, woman, around the table. O Johnny O popped into my head and I began singing. How fun it would have been to do O Johnny O there, even if some were in wheelchairs.
I was a caller for this in the 1950's & 60's. This is not correct. Try the call below. Sing it to the tune as opposed to talking the call. All join hands &...circle the ring Stop stop & give that girl a couple of swings Now swing that corner girl waitin' there behind you Go back & swing your own like a chicken in the bread pan pickin' out dough Then ali-man left now with your left hand Go sashay round your own Take that corner girl & promenade...that corner maid singin' oh Johnny oh Johnny oh ooooo ( Do this set 4 times). This call fits in perfectly with the song as recorded.