No Ash Will Burn (Walt Aldridge Cover)

Dragonflies (Boo Hewerdine Cover)

23 Skidoo (Boo Hewerdine Cover)

No Place to Fall (Townes Van Zandt Cover)

Wallace Hartley was appointed leader of the band on the Titanic for its maiden voyage. He died on April 14th 1912, aged 33, along with 1502 others. As the great boat began to sink, rather than save themselves, Hartley and his seven band mates chose to continue playing in an attempt to instil a sense of calm on board. Reportedly, the last song they played was ‘Nearer my God to Thee’. Only brave and truly inspirational men would do this. None of the band survived. Play on, Mr Hartley.

Play On, Mr Hartley was written and recorded by Don't Tell Johnny. 
It was produced by Paul Hobday, Scabby Road Studios.
The track will appear on the forthcoming DTJ Album 'Better Late Than Never'

A sense of duty
A sense of style
This Northern boy
With a western smile
Play on, Mr Hartley, play on

No nine to five
For this trader’s son
He leads the band
The chosen one
Play on, Mr Hartley, play on

If you learn the fiddle my son
Party invites will surely come
If you learn the fiddle my son
Party invites will surely come

Iceberg hits
Boats in the water
A farewell kiss
To wife and daughter
Play on, Mr Hartley, play on

Waves that crash
Upon the deck
With sinking hearts
And fear in check
Play on, Mr Hartley, play on

If you learn the fiddle my son
Party invites will surely come
If you learn the fiddle my son
Party invites will surely come



Play On, Mr Hartley

This song was Don't Tell Johnny's contribution to the 'Electric Landlady' Album, a collection of songs written and performed by musicians in and around Chepstow, to raise money for St David's Hospice. It is about the poet Dylan Thomas and his wife, Caitlin. 

It is written and performed by Don't Tell Johnny.
It was produced by Paul Hobday at Scabby Road Studios
It will also appear on the forthcoming DTJ Album 'Better Late Than Never'

The Boathouse was the home to Caitlin’s daughter
Seabirds calling overhead glinting light on mud and water
 ‘Sloe black, crow black fishing boat bobbing sea’
Now that you are gone what good is that to me?
‘Slow black, bible black’ whiskey is the pill
Mothers at the window, left over life to kill
Eighteen straight whiskies was an insult to the brain
To New York for a dollar never coming home again
....to Caitlin’s daughter
 ‘Sloe black, crow black fishing boat bobbing sea’
Now that you are gone what good is that to me?
‘Slow black, bible black’ whiskey is the pill
Mothers at the window, left over life to kill
Pictures and the memories, tourists in the lanes
A boathouse and a writing shed are all now that remains
...of Caitlin’s daughter 


Caitlin's Daughter

A Don't Tell Johnny song about The Severn Princess - the last remaining Severn Ferry.
Check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svq5iwc7ygE


The Severn Princess

The inspiration for this song is Otto Lilienthal. He was an early aviator who made great progress in the development of hang gliders. He was known as “The Darling of Fliegeberg” (literally ‘fly hill’). Lilienthal published a famous book, ’Birdflight as the Basis for Aviation’ in 1889. The Wright brothers took great inspiration from his work.  Lilienthal was sadly killed when one of his gliders stalled unexpectedly. His last words to his brother Gustav were ’Sacrifices must be made’. Air travel, that we all take for granted these days ,was made possible due to the work of early pioneers such as Otto Lilienthal.

‘Beyond your Wildest Dreams’ is written and performed by Don’t Tell Johnny and is taken from the album ‘Better Late Than Never’. We are very honoured that the Otto Lilienthal Museum in Anklam, North East Germany likes our humble song and plans to sell copies of the CD at the Museum.


Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

Myn Mawr - A song inspired by the landscape of Snowdonia. Track taken from the Dont Tell Johnny Album 'Better Late Than Never' and as played on the Frank Hennessy Radio Program ' Celtic Heartbeat' in January 2016

Myn Mawr

"Don't Tell Johnny" is an acoustic folk band from the border town of Chepstow in South Wales that play a range of acoustic styles from folk /blues to Americana. Covering songs from Nick Drake to Gillian Welch, along with a few original Don't Tell Johnny compositions. Their music combines touching, emotional vocals and harmonies, beautiful finger picked guitar and scorching fiddle lines to evoke a range of memorable moods and feelings.
Don't Tell Johnny is the perfect choice for live music for pub evenings, parties, weddings and other special occasions - at very reasonable prices. For further information on availability and prices please send us a fb message or contact the band at 

donttelljohnny@hotmail.co.uk

www.donttelljohnny.com

Don't Tell Johnny

Popular tracks