Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon

Subject: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 06:14 AM

Hello hoping someone with a better ear than me can help here. Take a listen to this and tell me what words you think she is singing in the very first line. We have recorded this for our Dove's Vagaries CD (hopefully out in Feb) but we want to write the exact words in the notes and I'm now not sure what I sang was that accurate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDQJCb0NNk

Many thanks

Sarah

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: cnd
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 08:33 AM

Unfortunately, the video you linked above comes up for me as "no longer available," and the only other one I've found is a fairly low-quality audio of a cylinder tube (click). Could you post what you've got as a start to help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 09:35 AM

Oh the original link posted which is a better recording works OK for me. I've checked again
Making a link this time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDQJCb0NNk

Not going to post what I think it is in case it influences people. I want a fresh ear!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 09:37 AM

Sorry and now with link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDQJCb0NNk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: cnd
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 09:51 AM

Huh, must be a regional thing. Even linkified, it still says it's not available to me. Hopefully a Briton can lend an ear.

Napoleon bunked(?) in Sicily, he had a ????
And just across the way there was a chocolate(?) factory
All the fancy girls would fraternize(?) Napoleon's ????
For there's something tasty and it ?????

Since you're only asking about the intro, that's all I'm going to try and attempt. If you want me to parse the remainder of your lyrics, I'd be glad to, but going from scratch on a recording that poor is pretty rough sledding.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: gillymor
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 10:38 AM

Youtube is giving me a "Video Unavailable" message here in the U.S.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 02:18 PM

So for those unable to get the link I posted there is this alternative that cnd suggested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URAWScNckHE

Any suggestions are most welcome
It is only the first line we need
Many thanks
Sarah

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 29 Dec 23 - 03:51 PM

“Napoleon Tompkins kept an eating-house in Bermondsey”,

Bermondsey

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Dec 23 - 03:18 AM

My pleasure. No thanks necessary.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Dec 23 - 06:46 AM

“Napoleon Tompkins kept an eating-house in Bermondsey,
And just across the way there was a chocolate factory.
All the factory girls would patronise Napoleon’s shop,
Order something tasty and a glass of ginger pop.”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 30 Dec 23 - 07:36 AM

Thanks Backwood man - I think you may be right but who was Napoleon Tompkins or Tomkins I wonder. I have been through the census and various other sources. We already presumed that the chocolate factory was probably Shuttleworths. I was only the Napoleon ? kept an eating house in Bermondsey that was giving trouble - we thought it might be "sank and kept an eating house" or napoleon Sankey ( a reference to the Sankey death mask of Napoleon that was found around that time). The song dates to early 1900s but cannot find any reference other than to these recordings. It's an interesting one! Thanks so much for your help. I didn't want to reply sooner in case it affected other people's guesses!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Dec 23 - 08:12 AM

Sarah, I listened several times through high quality headphones and I'm certain it's Tompkins. Does it have to refer to an actual individual? Couldn't it just be a name dreamed up by the composer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: cnd
Date: 30 Dec 23 - 10:36 AM

I agree that Backwoodsman's lyrics are correct.

I came across one instance of the name Napoleon Tompkins being used in an article in England in the 1870s, about giving your children "highfalutin" names, so to say, and setting them up for failure, but if the joke was widespread, I've found no evidence of it, at least under the logical spellings of the name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 30 Dec 23 - 12:47 PM

Oh where did you find the reference to Napoleon Tompkins? That sounds interesting

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 31 Dec 23 - 09:10 AM

I'm away from my computer at the moment, but it's from the August 12 1874 edition of London's Daily Telegraph, page 5.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jan 24 - 07:42 PM

Sarah, will you come to the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround some Monday and sing it for us? We've missed you and your delightful singing.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 03 Jan 24 - 03:30 PM

Hi cnd
Sorry for lack of reply I have been away from computer too but that sounds a fascinating link. I will try and track down the article but if you can pm a screen shot to me that would be ace.

Joe - now feeling so guilty for not coming along to the mudcat singarounds but this has been a very busy time with lots of travel for work in the autumn and then various live gigs (even on a Monday) but I promise I will come along again soon and yes I'll sing Napoleon....with the correct lyrics too now!I've missed you all too.

Cheers

Sarah