"The shanty... about 'Santy Anna' plays fast and loose with history. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (1795-1876) was the last President of Mexico before the United States annexed California, Texas and New Mexico. He was badly beaten by the Americans under General Taylor at the battle of Molina Del Rey in 1847. Originally the shanty told how 'General Taylor won the day, and Santy Anna ran away', but by some strange metamorphosis, Santy Anna became the hero of the battle he had lost."
References (for comparative versions): Colcord, Joanna C., SONGS OF AMERICAN SAILORMAN, W.W. Norton & Co., New York, 1938; p. 84 Doerflinger, William, SHANTYMEN AND SHANTYBOYS, Macmillan, New York, 1951; p. 78 Ives, Burl, SEA SONGS OF SAILING, WHALING AND FISHING, Ballantine, New York, 1956; p. 48 Sharp, Cecil J., PULLING SHANTIES, Novello, London, 1919; p. 49 Terry, R.R., THE SHANTY BOOK Part I, J. Curwen, London, 1921; p. 18 Whall, Capt. W.B., SHIPS, SEA SONGS AND SHANTIES, James Brown & Son, Glasgow, 1912; p. 89
SANTY ANNA
Oh, Santy Anna gained the day chorus: HOORAY, SANTY ANNA! Oh, Santy Anna gained the day chorus: ALL ON THE PLAINS OF MEXICO!
Oh, Gen'ral Taylor ran away chorus: HOORAY, SANTY ANNA! He ran away at Monterrey chorus: ALL ON THE PLAINS OF MEXICO!
Oh, Santy Anna fought for fame chorus: HOORAY, SANTY ANNA! And that's where Santy gained his name chorus: ALL ON THE PLAINS OF MEXICO!
Oh, Santy Anna fought for gold chorus: HOORAY, SANTY ANNA! And the deeds he done have oft been told chorus: ALL ON THE PLAINS OF MEXICO!
Oh, Santy Anna's day is o'er chorus: HOORAY, SANTY ANNA! And Santy Anna will fight no more chorus: ALL ON THE PLAINS OF MEXICO!
Oh, Santy Anna won the day chorus: HOORAY, SANTY ANNA! And Gen'ral Taylor ran away chorus: ALL ON THE PLAINS OF MEXICO!
So this album's version of the shanty doesn't mention Bonaparte, either; I was confusing it with the shanty that preceded it on the LP, "Boney Was a Warrior". Curious, then, that there's a version that does mention Bonaparte!!