The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #84540 Message #2725214
Posted By: Jim Dixon
16-Sep-09 - 11:27 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior (chantey)
Subject: Lyr Add: BONEY (chantey)
From "Corbiestanes: Chronicle of a Fishing Village" by Mrs. Charles Garnett, in The Sunday Magazine, Volume 9 (London: Isbister and Company, 1880), page 39:
Out away in the North Sea the "top-sel" was being hoisted on board the Bonny Betsey, and as the sailors strained at the ropes, over the water rang in doleful measure, rising and falling in unison with the surrounding waves, the time-keeping song of "Boney." A finely-made man, the first on the line, his golden ringlets blowing about his beautiful Saxon face, led in a clear tenor, the men joining in the pulling chorus which came every alternate line:—
"You've heard of Napoleon Boney-party— Why, ha, har! Why, ha, har! Boney was a warrior— Why, ha, har! Why, ha, har!
He fought the Danes and Prüssi-ans, Also he fought the Röö-shians. Now Boney went to Moscow— Moscow was a-burning; Now Boney went a-cruising In the Channel of Old England, Nelson also went a-cruising, And thus they chanced to meet; And Boney got took up, And Nelson shipped him in a packet All to Saint Helena."