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29 Dec 23 - 06:14 AM (#4194428) Subject: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute 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 |
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29 Dec 23 - 08:33 AM (#4194432) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: cnd 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? |
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29 Dec 23 - 09:35 AM (#4194434) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute 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!!! |
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29 Dec 23 - 09:37 AM (#4194435) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute Sorry and now with link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDQJCb0NNk |
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29 Dec 23 - 09:51 AM (#4194436) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: cnd 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. |
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29 Dec 23 - 10:38 AM (#4194442) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: gillymor Youtube is giving me a "Video Unavailable" message here in the U.S. |
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29 Dec 23 - 02:18 PM (#4194452) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute 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 |
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29 Dec 23 - 03:51 PM (#4194455) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Backwoodsman “Napoleon Tompkins kept an eating-house in Bermondsey”, Bermondsey |
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30 Dec 23 - 03:18 AM (#4194470) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Backwoodsman My pleasure. No thanks necessary. |
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30 Dec 23 - 06:46 AM (#4194476) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Backwoodsman “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.” |
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30 Dec 23 - 07:36 AM (#4194479) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute 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! |
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30 Dec 23 - 08:12 AM (#4194480) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Backwoodsman 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? |
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30 Dec 23 - 10:36 AM (#4194488) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: cnd 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. |
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30 Dec 23 - 12:47 PM (#4194491) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute Oh where did you find the reference to Napoleon Tompkins? That sounds interesting |
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31 Dec 23 - 09:10 AM (#4194534) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: GUEST,cnd 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. |
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02 Jan 24 - 07:42 PM (#4194739) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Joe Offer 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- |
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03 Jan 24 - 03:30 PM (#4194826) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Napoleon From: Sarah the flute 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 |