Lyr Add: St. Helena

Subject: St. Helena
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 02:57 PM

Now long is the way, from his warring and fighting.

He has gone to a place where naught can delight him

He may sit now and tell, of the tides he has seen-o

While alone he does mourn, on the isle, of St. Helena

No more in St. Cloud, will he appear in great spleandor.

Nor step forth from the crowds, like the great Alexander.

He may look to the east, while he thinks on Johanna

With his heart full of woe, on the isle, of St. Helena

The wind rushing waves; round our shore they're a washing

And the white billows beat; on the rocks they're a lashing.

He may look o'r the main, to the great Mt. Diana

With his eyes on the waves, that surround St. Helena

The reason she weeps; from her husband she is parted

She dreams when she sleeps, and awakes broken hearted

There is non to console her, tho there's many would be with her

While alone she does mourn, when she thinks of St. Helena

So all you that have wealth, beware of ambition

For a sudden twist of fate, could change your condition.

Be steadfast and kind, what you can't change you can not

well maybe old ways will end, on the isle, of St. Helena.

Album: General Humbert II(two)...(Mary Black), Shanachie, '83... though Recorded in 1978 I believe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 03:01 PM

CORRECTION...The *WILD* rushing waves

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 03:10 PM

Search the Bodley Ballads website under 'Helena' for broadside copies under various titles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 03:42 PM

Wow! what a website! Looks like I've got my work cut out for me now... My words are but Phonetic approximations...THANK YOU BRUCE-O!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 04:21 PM

Searching the Bodley Ballads website under Subject: Napoleon would also turn them up, but you'd have 40 pages of output to scan through instead of just 2.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena/tune
From: GUEST,Pavane
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 07:29 AM

Just scanning the Bodley entries, I noticed the following comments on one of them:

Bonaparte's departure for St. Helena ("Now Bonny is awa' ...") Author: Watt, James To the tune of: The braes of Balquhither

I have never heard it sung to that tune or anything resembling it. I don't have my albums to hand, so I can't check where Nic Jones found his tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: GUEST,Liberty Belle.
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 06:18 PM

You will find the song on Frank Harte's CD, 'My Name Is Napoleon Bonaparte.

ISLE OF SAINT HELENA.

Now Boney's away from his warring and fighting,
He has gone to a place, where there is naught can delight him,
He may sit there and dwell, on the glories he has seen oh,
While forlorn he will mourn, on the Isle of Saint Helena.

No more in Saint Cloud, will he appear in great splendour,
Nor come forth from the crowd, like the great Alexander,
He may look toward the East, while he thinks upon Lucana,
While his heart is full of woe, on the Isle of Saint Helena.

Now the wild rushing waves, round the shore they are washing,
And the white billows heave, on the rocks they are crashing,
He may look o'er the main, from the great Mount Diana,
But his eyes are on the waves, that surround Saint Helena.

Louisa she weeps, for her husband departed,
And she dreams while she sleeps, and awakes broken-hearted,
Not a friend to console her, in the past there were so many,
Now alone she does mourn, when she thinks on Saint Helena.

All you that have great wealth, then beware of ambition,
For its some shift fate, could soon change your condition,
And be steadfast in time, what's to come change you cannot,
Maybe your race could end, on the Isle of Saint Helena.

Oh you parliaments of England, and you Holy Alliance,
On a prisoner of war, you can now hurl defiance,
For all your base intrigue, you never could demean him,
And you exiled him to die, on the Isle of Saint Helena.

Now Boney's away from his warring and fighting,
He has gone to a place, where there is naught can delight him,
He may sit there and dwell, on the glories he has seen oh,
While forlorn he will mourn, on the Isle of Saint Helena.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: pavane
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 02:31 AM

Yes, thanks. I know there are many versions of the words available. The LYR REQ is because this is an OLD thread, already answered.

My comment was on the TUNE. On one boradside, it was stated that the tune was The braes of Balquhither.

Is this the same tune used for 'Will ye go,lassie'?

If so, it is totally unlike any version of St Helena which I have heard. Does it fit?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: St. Helena
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 05:09 AM

The tune for Braes of Balquhidder can be found at J C's Tunefinder.