Johnny Horton recorded “The Battle of New Orleans,” the 1959 crossover hit based on a folk song. The song retells the Battle of New Orleans, fought in January 1815 during the War of 1812, in a lively and humorous first-person style.
Jimmy Driftwood wrote the original song, commonly titled “The Battle of New Orleans,” and Horton’s recording used a version of Driftwood’s lyrics adapted for commercial release. Horton’s performance topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most successful country-pop crossover records of its era.
The battle itself occurred after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed but before news of the treaty reached the combatants. American forces under Andrew Jackson defeated the British. Horton’s song is a musical retelling rather than a precise military account, but its memorable rhythm made the historical episode widely recognizable.