The Battle of New Orleans – Johnny Horton | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1) and Country (#1); 1959
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1959, Johnny Horton released The Battle of New Orleans, a song based on Jimmy Driftwood’s composition about the War of 1812 battle led by General Andrew Jackson. Driftwood had originally written the song as a teaching tool for his students.
Produced by Don Law, Horton’s recording featured a lively, folk-influenced arrangement with clear storytelling delivery. Released in the spring of 1959, The Battle of New Orleans reached #1 on both the Billboard Pop and Country charts.
The lyric recounts the historic battle in humorous, accessible language rather than formal historical detail. Its conversational tone and vivid imagery helped bring a historical event to life for mainstream audiences.
The Battle of New Orleans won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and remains Johnny Horton’s signature recording, blending history with popular country music.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Don Law
Lyrics Written by:
Jimmy Driftwood
Awards:
Grammy Award for Record of the Year (1960)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.