NAPOLEON'S DREAM

One night sad and languid I went to my bed
And I scarcely reclined on my pillow
When a vision surprising came into my head
I thought I was crossing the billow,
I thought as my vessel sped over the deep,
I beheld that rude rock that grows so craggy and steep
Where the willow, the willow is now seen to weep
Or the grave of the once famed Napoleon.

I thought as my vessel sped near to the land
I beheld clad in green his bold figure
With the trumpet of fame he had clasped in his hand,
On his brow there shone valor and vigor.
He said noble stranger you have ventured to me
From the land of your fathers who boast they are free
If so then a tale I will tell unto thee
'Tis concerning the once famed Napoleon

You remember the time so immortal he cried
When I crossed o'er the Alps famed in story,
When the legions of France whose sons were my pride
I marched them to honor and glory
On the fields of Marengo I tyranny hurled
Where the banners of France first to me were unfurled
As a symbol of liberty all over the world
And a symbol of fame cried Napoleon.

Like a hero I've born both the heat and the cold
I've marched to the trumpet and symbol
But by the dark deeds of treachery I now have been sold
Though monarchs before me have trembled
You princes and rulers who my station demean
Like scorpions you spit forth all your venom and spleen
But Liberty all over the world shall be seen.
As I woke from my dream cried Napoleon.

From Holdstock & MacLeod's Deepwater Songs recording
https://dickholdstock.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/deepwatersongslyrics.pdf


We have a version in the Digital Tradition called "the Dream of Napoleon" https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=6186