7 recordings of Boney

Boney
James Forman, Leith, on Shanties & Sea Songs recorded by James M. Carpenter (1928-29), Archive Shanties & Sea Songs, volume 1, Folktrax 141

Johnny was a warrior
Away, hey, yah
Johnny was a warrior
John Fran-swar

Said he would conquer all the world
Away, hey, yah
He said he would conquer all the world
John Fran-swar

But when he went to Moscow
Away, hey, yah
When he went to Moscow
John Fran-swar

Moscow was on fire
Away, hey, yah
Moscow was on fire
John Fran-swar

[*] he come back again
Away, hey, yah

Johnny [far?] he kneeled down
Away, hey, yah
Johnny [far?] he kneeled down
John Fran-swar

He went to St Helena
Away, hey, yah
He went to St Helena
John Fran-swar

[Bury?] his body, his bones lie low
Away, hey, yah
[Put?] him in [France city?]
John Fran-swar



Boney Was A Warrior
Brian Pearson, in The Critics Group, Waterloo:Peterloo, English Folk Songs and Broadsides 1780-1830, Argo ZDA 86 1968

Boney was a warrior
Weigh-hey-yah
A warrior a tarrier
Jean François

Oh Boney beat the Rooshians
Weigh-hey-yah
And Boney beat the Prooshians
Jean François

Oh Boney marched to Moscow
Weigh-hey-yah
He lost his army in the snow
Jean François

He marched his army back again
Weigh-hey-yah
And Moscow was a-blazing then
Jean François

We licked him in Trafalgar Bay
Weigh-hey-yah
We carried his main-top-mast away
Jean François

'T was on the plains of Waterloo
Weigh-hey-yah
He met the boy that put him through
Jean François

Boney went a-cruising
Weigh-hey-yah
Aboard the Billy Ruffian
Jean François

And Boney went to St.Helen
Weigh-hey-yah
And he never come back again
Jean François



Boney
Alan Mills and The Four Shipmates, Songs of the sea, Folkways F-2312, 1951

Boney was a warrior
Way-ay-yaw
A warrior and a tarrier
John Françwah

Boney fought the Prooshians
Way-ay-yaw
Then he fought the Rooshians
John Françwah

Boney went to Moscow
Way-ay-yaw
Boney went to Moscow
John Françwah

Moscow was a-blazin'
Way-ay-yaw
Boney was a –ragin'
John Françwah

Boney went to Elbow
Way-ay-yaw
Boney went to Elbow
John Françwah

Boney went to Waterloo
Way-ay-yaw
There he got his overthrow
John Françwah

Bonny he was sent away
Way-ay-yaw
Away to Saint Helena
John Françwah

Boney broke his heart and died
Way-ay-yaw
Boney broke his heart and died
John Françwah

Boney was a warrior
Way-ay-yaw
Boney was a warrior
John Françwah



Boney Was A Warrior
Paul Clayton, Whaling & Sailing Songs, Tradition TCD 1064 (original LP release: Whaling & Sailing Songs from the days of Moby Dick, Tradition Records TLP 1005, 1956)

Boney was a warrior
Away-ay-ya
A warrior, a tarrier
Jean François

Boney fought the Prussians
Away-ay-ya
And Boney fought the Russians
Jean François

Boney went to Moscow
Away-ay-ya
Across the Alps in frost and snow
Jean François

Moscow was a-blazing
Away-ay-ya
And Boney was a-raging
Jean François

Boney went to Elba
Away-ay-ya
And Boney he come back again
Jean François

Boney went to Waterloo
Away-ay-ya
And there he got his overthrew
Jean François

Boney he was sent away
Away-ay-ya
Away in St. Helena
Jean François

Boney broke his heart and died
Away-ay-ya
Away in St Helena
Jean François

Oh, Boney was a warrior
Away-ay-ya
A warrior, a terrier
Jean François



Boney
Dan Aguiar - The X-Seamen's Institute, on Classic Maritime Music from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, SFW CD 40053; from Sea Songs Favotites, Folkways 37325, 1981

Boney was a war-rye-or
Away-aye-yah!
A war-rye-or, a ter-rye-or
Jonny Franswor!

Boney beat the Prussians
Away-aye-yah!
The Osstrye-ans an' the Rooshye-ans
Jonny Franswor!

Boney went to school in France
Away-aye-yah!
He learnt the Rooshians how to dance
Jonny Franswor!

Boney marched to Moscow
Away-aye-yah!
Lost his army in the snow
Jonny Franswor!

We licked him in Trafalgar's Bay
Away-aye-yah!
Shot his main topm'st away
Jonny Franswor!

'Twas on the Plains of Waterloo
Away-aye-yah!
He met the boy who put 'm through
Jonny Franswor!

He met the Duke of Wellington
Away-aye-yah!
An' then his downfall wuz begun
Jonny Franswor!

Boney went a-cru-sye-in
Away-aye-yah!
Aboard the Billy Ruf-fye-an
Jonny Franswor!

They sent him into exile
Away-aye-yah!
He died on St Helena's Isle
Jonny Franswor!

Boney was a war-rye-or
Away-aye-yah!
A war-rye-or, a ter-rye-or
Jonny Franswor!



Boney
Peter Marston, The Revels, Blow Ye Winds in the Morning, A Celebration of the Sea including traditional sea songs dances and chanteys, Revels Records CD 1084, 1992

Boney was a warrior
Way-aye-yah!
A warrior and a terrior
Jean Francois!

Boney fought the Russians.
Way-aye-yah!
The Russians and the Prussians
Jean Francois!

Boney marched to Moscow
Way-aye-yah!
Lost his army in the snow
Jean Francois!

Boney went to Waterloo
Way-aye-yah!
There he got his overthrow
Jean Francois!

Away in St. Helena
Way-aye-yah!
Boney broke his heart and died
Jean Francois!



Boney
Maddy Prior, Ravenchild, Park Records, PRKCD49 (1999)

Boney was a warrior
Wey, hey, ah
A warrior, a terrier
John François

He planned a distant enterprise
Wey, hey, ah
A great and distant enterprise
John François

He is off to fight the Russian bear
Wey, hey, ah
He plans to drive him from his lair
John François

They left with banners all ablaze
Wey, hey, ah
The heads of Europe stood amazed
John François

He thinks he'll beat the Russkies
Wey, hey, ah
And the Bonny Bunch of Roses.
John François

Boney was a warrior
Wey, hey, ah
A warrior, a terrier
John François