Rani Arbo &
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Johnny Brown

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Traditional, from the singing of Bessie Jones, Georgia Sea Islands

Johnny Brown is one of our favorite Georgia Sea Islands songs. There’s a circle game that goes with it, involving folding a small cloth corner by corner and then making up dance moves in the center of the ring. Anand knew this from way back, and Rani and I have taught it to many kids over the years. We weren’t actually planning to record it; we launched into it as a palate-cleanser in between some takes of Fire in the Sky, and Chris, who is always listening for what’s interesting, hit record (we didn’t even know he’d done it until afterwards). The song has such a great groove already built in — I feel like all we did was jump on and ride it, not knowing where it was going to take us that day. — SK

 

Little Johnny Brown, lay your comfort down
Little Johnny Brown, lay your comfort down

Fold one corner, Johnny Brown
Fold another corner, Johnny Brown (x3)

Make a little motion, Johnny Brown (x4)

Lope like a buzzard (x4)

Take it to your lover, Johnny Brown (x4)