Lyr Req/Add: Horse called Napoleon

Subject: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,LWood
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 03:42 PM

I have been looking for the words to this song since my mom passed away as she used to sing it to us kids all the time...HELP!

"I had a horse I called Napoleon,
All on account of his boney parts..."

Any help would be more than appreciated!

Thanks to all!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Stewie
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 04:41 PM

As I indicated in the other thread wherein you made this request, you will find info: HERE.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 06:39 PM

A major difficulty about finding this song on the Internet is the many ways to spell gidap, gid-ap, giddap, gidd-ap, giddiap, giddi-ap, giddiup, giddi-up, giddup, gidd-up, giddyap, giddy-ap, giddyup, giddy-up, gidiap, gidi-ap, gidiup, gidi-up, gidup, gid-up, gidyap, gidy-ap, gidyup, gidy-up, gitap, git-ap, gitiap, giti-ap, gitiup, giti-up, gittap, gitt-ap, gittiap, gitti-ap, gittiup, gitti-up, gittup, gitt-up, gittyap, gitty-ap, gittyup, gitty-up, gitup, git-up, gityap, gity-ap, gityup, or gity-up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 06:46 PM

However, I'm not sure GIDDYAP NAPOLEON (however you spell it) is the song Guest LWood wants. I haven't run across any version of the song that mentions "bony parts."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 07:40 PM

Jim Dixon, I believe that you are correct. Guest Wood wants a children's song. I vaguely remember it from a kid's book or magazine of poetry and stories, but I can't locate it anywhere. It may have been a revision of Wal I Swan, but different words.

There were a couple of children's magazines that came to our house, with poems and stories. On the internet there is a book with material collected from the old children's magazine "St. Nicholas," and I guarantee that most of the poems cannot be found anywhere else. Later magazines of the same type also had much material that was never reproduced elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: ranger1
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 07:42 PM

I dunno about horses named Napoleon, But I had an uncle named Napoleon. Who may well have sung about horses named Napoleon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Ferrara
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 09:30 PM

LWood, try this.- Rita Ferrara

I have a dog, his name is Roscoe,
I have raised him from a pup,
He will sit up on his hind legs ...
If you hold his front legs up!

I have a horse, his name's Napoleon,
Named him for his bony parts,
He'll win any race he runs in ...
If he has the proper starts!

I have a car, an old Tin Lizzie,
It will give you chills and thrills,
It will run right down the valleys ...
If you push it up the hills!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Ferrara
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 09:34 PM

Hmmmm.... The memory cells are turning slowly.... A couple small corrections.

I have a dog, his name is Roscoe,
I have raised him from a pup,
He will sit up on his hind legs ...
If you hold his front legs up!

I have a horse, his name's Napoleon,
Named him for his bony parts,
He'll win any race he runs in ...
If he gets the proper starts!

I have a car, an old Tin Lizzie,
It will give you lots of thrills,
It will run right down the valleys ...
If you push it up the hills!

******
[The first line of this verse can also be,
"I have a car, it sure is somethin',
It will give you lots of thrills"]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 11:36 PM

You've got it!
Many verse variations. A different song, a twist of tune at the end of each verse, but of the same ilk:

I had a horse, his name was Bill,
And when he ran, he couldn't stand still.
He ran away one day and also I ran with him.

Horse

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 12:05 AM

Something just clicked! There's a Homer and Jethro song that contains that joke about "bony parts." LULLABY OF BIRD DOG. I posted it myself! Probably still not what Guest Lwood wants, though; it's about a dog, not a horse.

Another Guest, Chicken Charlie, says he uses that joke in his introduction to GET UP NAPOLEON. Click here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,LWood
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 04:02 PM

I am sending the rest of the lyrics as I remember them; maybe that will clue someone to fill in the gaps.

I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS...It is not Giddyup Napoleon; I believe the name was just "Napoleon" or "The Old Milk Wagon Horse".

Anyway, this is what I remember:

I had a horse I called Napoleon,
All on account of his bony parts;
(??He was bred in old Kentucky??)
??_________________?? and off he'd start.

He was so thin, you could see right through him,
Hair just as fine and as smooth as silk -
Hitched him up to the old milk wagon,
Taught him to stop when I hollered 'milk' !

One fine day while I was driving,
'Long came a Jay with a rig so neat,
??__________________??
We'll have a race right down the street."

??__________________??
??__________________??
Til someone hollered "milk"
and I lost the race.

It honestly seems like there is another verse in there somewhere, because it seemed like we as kids hollered 'milk' at least three times or more during the song.

Thanks for any more help!

Lori

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Lynne
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 01:29 PM

The way my grandfather used to sing the "Milk" song was as follows:

I had a horse and we called him Napoleon.
He had hair as fine as silk.
We drive him around with our milk wagon.
When we wanted him to stop we hollered "Milk."

One day when I was out a riding,
Along came a fella with a rig so neat.
Said he to me, "Come on, you rube,
And I'll give you a race right down the street."

So, off we started helter-skelter,
A great big smile upon my face.
When sure as a sinner I was comin' in a winner
When somebody hollered "Milk" and I lost the race!

Lynnelorie, Upstate New York

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Lori
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 01:09 AM

Thanks Lynnelorie so much! That is much closer to the way mom sang it; just wish I knew where it came from to begin with!

Lori

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Lynne Lorie
Date: 20 May 04 - 04:52 PM

Your very welcome Lori, I have a day care center and we now sing this song every day and all the kids love it, so it has now become a part of their lives as well. As for its origin, I don't have a clue but I remember sitting on my grandfathers knee and singing it with him in the early 50's.
Enjoy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,DLee
Date: 29 Jul 04 - 05:25 PM

My grandfather would always sing this song. I found your post trying to determine if it was a real song or had he made it up!

I had a horse his name Napoleon,
Noted for his bony parts.
He was sired by an old Hambletonian,
Damned by everyone that drove his carts.

One fine Sunday, while I was out riding,
Along came a gent with a rig so neat.
He said to me, "Come along, little Ruben.
We'll have a race right down the street."

Down the street we went helter-skelter,
Down the street at a terrible pace.
Sure as a sinner, I was coming out a winner
When a cuss hollered "MILK" and I lost the race.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 04 - 08:03 PM

DLee, Thanks for sharing that one with us.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,dlee
Date: 29 Jul 04 - 08:58 PM

It is fun to find other people who know this song! I would love to know its origins. We are from southern Maine if that helps.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,matt in provo, ut
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 08:39 PM

My grandpa and my great uncle both used to sing this song but some of the words may have been altered because my grandmother didn't like him to swear. Here are both verses as I remember them. If you find out any more or a published source I would be very interested in knowing where it came from. There are a lot of historical political and racial meanings from what I glean.
^^
Had me horse and I called him Napoleon
All on account of his bony parts.
He was sired by Old Hamiltonian,
Darned by everyone 'round these parts.

Bred so fine you could see right through him,
Hair as fine as any silk,
I'd hitch him up to my old milk wagon
An' if I wanted him to stop, I'd holler "Milk!"

The other day when I was out a-riding,
Along came a man with a rig so neat.
He said, "Look here, you rube.
I'll run you a race right down this street."

So off we started a helter-skelter,
And I had smile all over my face.
Sure as I's sinner, I's comin' in a winner
When a lady called "milk" and I lost the race.

Slept in barn late last Sunday,
Hadn't a penny and I was dead broke.
As I lie there with my mouth wide open,
A gosh darn rat ran down my throat.

So I got me some cheese and an' I put right here (points to chin)
An' I got me a tom cat all full o' fleas.
Up came the rat an' spied the cat
Down went the rat, cat, and whole darn cheese.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Jana
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 09:43 PM

I was trying to find the words to this for my mother. She remembers her grandmother singing it when she was little. My grandmother passed it on to my generation...Here are the words as we remember:

Napoleon

I've got a horse and his name's Napoleon
That's on account of his bony parts
He was raised by old mother doe,
The very same horse that came out of the ark

He's so thin you can see right through him
Coat so fine and soft as silk
I hitch him to my milk wagon
When I want to stop I holler Milk

One fine day while I was riding
Along came a man with a very fine horse / in a rig so neat
Said hey Rube, I'll run you a race
Have you a race right down the street

Off we started helter skelter
Me with a smile all over my face
Just then a lady hollered Milk,
And so you see we lost the race.

I too would dearly love to know where this came from. It is one of those songs that means a lot to my family...along with "Playmates" which also took me a fair bit of trying to find.

Interesting how everyone who has heard the song seems to be from different areas...that makes me think it's older than my original thought - after all, it takes time for things to travel...or at least it did prior to the internet!

Jana ::Windsor, Ontario, Canada::

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Yorc
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 01:34 PM

Here is my take. My Uncle sang this while bouncing a younger family member on his knee. The further into the song he was, the faster he sang and the faster he bounced. I have no clue as to where this came from.

I had an old horse and I called him Napoleon
Just cus of all of his bony parts.
He was sired by Old Hamiltonian,
Dammed by near everyone 'round these parts.

He was so fine you could see right through him,
Hair as fine as any silk,
I hitched him up to an old milk wagon
Taught him to halt when I hollered "Milk!"

The other day when I was a-riding,
Along came a man with a rig so neat.
He said, ??????????????????????
I'll run you a race right down this street."

So off we went a helter-skelter,
And I had smile all over my face.
Sure as I's sinner, I's comin' in a winner
When the rube hollered "milk" and I lost my race.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:54 PM

What's the tune for this? I'm thinking, "Reuben Reuben I've Been Thinking" (in the Digital Traditon as Reuben and Rachel). Is that the tune?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:39 AM

Joybell's partner Greg sings this very well and could probably provide the dots.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,charlotte
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 06:34 PM

It's amazing how many people know this song. I thought it was an original when my grandfather sang it to us. He bounced us on his knee to imitate the horse race. What a great memory.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: Ferrara
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 02:30 AM

Joe, yes, at least, I learned it to the tune of "Reuben, Reuben."

These are great verses that people are remembering! Much better than the kids' version I learned.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Libby
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 08:31 PM

Here is how I remember it

Had me a horse and I called him Napoleon
Named on account of his boney parts
Bought him from an old post Indian
Known to everyone in these parts

He was so thin you could see right through him
His hair was as fine as the finest silk
Hitched him to an old milk wagon
Taught him to stop when I hollered "milk"

Along came a dude in the finest livery
Asked me if I wanted to race
Sure as a sinner I was coming home a winner
when the dude hollered "milk" and I lost that race.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From:
Date: 11 Apr 06 - 11:17 AM

I too was sung this by my Grandpa, and my dad...and I sang it to all of my kids. Our version went like this: (the reference to the "sugar place" perhaps reflects our Vermont roots, for those of you not from New England, a sugar place is a stand of maple trees which are tapped in the spring to make maple syrup.)

I had a horse and his name was Napolean
He had hair of the finest silk
Hitched him to an old board wagon
Learned him to whoa when I hollered milk

I met a man and his name was Bailey
He had a horse and the horse was bay
Bailey said lets have a race
up and down the sugar place

We started out a hilter skilter
Up and down the sugar place
Sure as I'm a sinner I was comin' in the winner
When a woman hollered "milk!" and I lost the race.

(The child is bounced on the knees and let slip between the open knees on the final milk. It has never failed to get a gleeful laugh from any child!)

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Becky Hill
Date: 25 May 07 - 04:04 PM

Another version - this one from New York state and Pennsylvania :
this one was also sung, speeding up at the end, with the kids yelling "Milk" as the punchline


THE MILK SONG / NAPOLEON
Sung to the tune of "Reuben, Reuben or Reuben, Rachel"

I had a horse and I called him Napoleon
All because of his bony parts
He was sired by HAMBLETONIAN*
All you had to do was to make him start

He was so thin you could look right through him
He had hair as fine as silk
I drove him around in my old milk wagon
When I wanted him to stop I hollered out "MILK"

As I was driving along so gaily
Along came a feller with a rig so fine
He said to me, "C'mon, you reuben"
How about a race right down this line?

Away we went helter-skelter
I had a smile all over my face
For as sure as I'm a sinner I was comin" out a winner
When he hollered out "MILK" and I lost the race!!

Always ended up with
Bum bada dada bum bum (shave and haircut, two bits) refrain.

Sung to the Baker Children by Charles M. Baker, 1940's – and probably to him by his mother, Ethel Slack Baker in the 1910's (Western NY and PA. origins)

*Hambletonian was the name of a famous trotter race horse from NY state in the mid 1800's

Rebecca Baker Hill
Tiffin, OH

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 10:39 PM

Are you still loking for word to napolean ?

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 11:24 PM

I also heard this as a child and it goes:

I had a horse and his name was Napoleon
All I had was the bony parts
I hitched him up to an old milk wagon
Hollered MILK when I wanted him to stop

One fine day while out a-riding
Long came a chap in a rig so neat
He said, You brute I'll run you in a race
All up and down the big main street.

Off we started helter skelter
I had a grin all over my face
Sure as a sinner I was comin' in a winner
When someone hollered MILK and I lost the race!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 11:28 PM

Forgot to add that in my family, this song was taught by my grandmother who was from Utica, NY.
Great song for kids!!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,GraceAZ
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 04:48 PM

I have a horse, his name's Napoleon
called on account of his bony parts.
He is known to all Hambletonians
and to all throughout these parts.

Well, one fine day when we were out walking
along came a horse with a rig so neat.
Said he to me, "You old dobbin,
we'll have a race right down the street."

So away we went helter skelter.
We were goin' at a heck of a pace.
When all of a sudden someone hollered,
"Milk!" and that's how we lost the race.

My mother taught me this song and she grew up in Buffalo, NY (1913-2006) in an Irish family. What I like about it is the surprise - that the horse pulled a milk wagon and would stop at the mere call of the word - milk.

If anyone knows the song that ends with the line, "Get out of here with that boom boom boom and don't come back no more!" I would appreciate knowing the lyrics and background on it. Thank you!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: Melissa
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 05:17 PM

Hi Grace,
The 'boom-boom-boom' song you're looking for sounds like "The Thing". You can find lyrics in the DT by using the searchbox at the upper corner of this page.

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 12:37 PM

I think its:

"I've got a horse named Mapoleon,
so he's known for his boney parts...
Hitched him up to my milk wagon,
taught him to woe when I yelled 'Milk'...

Down the lane one Sunday mornin,
I was goin at a hell of a pace...
Someone yelled 'Miiiiiilk'...
And I lost the race..."

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,NAPOLEON; When I wanted him to stop, MILK !
Date: 03 May 08 - 08:19 AM

The lyrics are:

I HAD A HORSE, AND HIS NAME WAS NAPOLEON,
all because of his bony parts!
He was owned by old man NOLAN,
and he ran by fits and starts.

He was so thin you could see right through him,
and his hair was as soft as silk;
WHEN I WANTED HIM TO STOP,
I HOLLERED "MILK”!

Away we went, all helter-skelter,
I had a smile all over my face!
As sure as I'm a sinner, I'd 'a' been the WINNER;
But HE HOLLERED MILK... AND I lost the race.

My father, born in 1879, taught to me this song, in Syracuse, N.Y.
He, Bill Farley, Cazenovia, was a Harness racer, Saratoga racetrack, & professional horse trainer, and the "Uncle Bill" mentioned on jacket of every book by his nephew author of the Black Stallion books, Walter Lorimer Farley.
Regards,
Judith Lorimer Farley
Melbourne Beach Florida [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Joe from Buffalo
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 10:38 AM

All great references, but the original post was inquiring about a song about a horse named Napoleon "all on account of his bone-e-parts". This Napleon song is a different one, folks. My grandfather used to sing it and he is originally from Syracuse, N.Y. It mentions "the Hambletonian" which is a long-standing harness race in upstate New York. The song follows a medium galloping beat. The lyrics that I learned are:

I had a horse and his name was Napoleon
All on account of his bone-e-parts
He was the sire of an old Hambletonian
The son-of-a-gun would never start

He was so thin you could see right through him
Hair on his eyes as fine as silk
I drove him on my milk wagon
When I wanted him to stop I'd holler milk

Then one day up-on the street
I met a rube with a rig so neat
Says I old rube I'll bet you a five-er
I can beat you down the street

So off we started down the street
You can bet yer life twas a live-ly pace
Sure as a sinner, I was the winner
Till someone hollered, MILK! And I lost the race

Subject: ADD: Horse Called Napoleon
From: GUEST,KB from Alabama
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:34 PM

The way I learned it in grammar school (1960's) was:

HORSE CALLED NAPOLEON

I once had a horse, and his name was Napoleon;
all on account of his Bone-y-parts.
He was sired by an old Hambletonian
known to everybody 'round these parts.

Oom-pa-da, oom-pa-da, Oom-pa-da, oom-pa-da

He was so thin you could look right through him,
His hair was as fine as any silk.
He pulled me in my old milk wagon
and I taught him to stop I hollered milk.

Oom-pa-da, oom-pa-da, Oom-pa-da, oom-pa-da

Then one day while I was out a-ridin'
along came a feller in a rig so neat.
Says he to me I'll bet you a five-er
Let's have a race right down the street.

Oom-pa-da, oom-pa-da, Oom-pa-da, oom-pa-da

So off we started helter skelter;
I was a-goin' at a thunderin' pace,
But as sure as you're a sinner, I was comin' out the winner
when the feller hollered, MILK! and I lost the race.

Oom-pa-da-la-doom-pa, Too Bad!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 09:39 PM

Be interesting to find out where this song came from. Seems fairly old.
Very different from "Wal, I Swan," by Burt (1907), with its 'Giddyap, Napoleon, it looks like rain.'

Most versions speak of the boney parts.
The Hambletonian still goes on, at the meadowlands.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 10:28 AM

I had a horse and his name was napolean
on on the count of his bony parts.

He was skinny you could look right through him,
his hair was as fine as any silk.
I hitched him up to my old milk wagon
and taught him him to stop when i hollered milk.

One day when i was out a ridin',
a fella came along with a rig so neat.
He said to me, ya gul darn ruben
let's run a race right down the street.

We were going helter schelter,
we were running thunder and pace,
sure as a sinner i was a comin as the winner,
when the fellar hollered milk and i lost the race.


That is what i remember of the song. My grandpa used to sing it to my brother and I as kids.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Tony Jensen in Idaho
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:44 PM

I'm the Grandpa who used to sing this to my kids and grandkids. Sung to the tune "Reuben, Reuben, I been thinkin".
These are the ONLY TRUE lyrics.

I had a horse and his name was Napoleon
all on account of his boney-parts.
He was sired by an old Hambletonian (a breed of carriage horse)
and darned by everybody round these parts.

He was so thin you could see right thru him
hair as fine as any silk.
So I hitched him up to my old milk wagon
and taught his to stop when I hollered "MILK"

One afternoon when I was out ridin'
along came a feller with his rig so neat.
Said he to me "You old, darn Reuben" (old-fashioned person)
"Let's have a race, right down the street".

So we started, helter-skelter.
I was a-comin at a thunderin' pace.
Sure as a sinner, I was comin' as a winner,
When the feller hollered "MILK", and I lost the race.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:33 PM

Guest Tony Jensen-
Source of your lyrics?

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,dan
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:14 PM

not sure you are still looking for these lyrics, but if you are I can probably get them - my grandma used to sing it, and my aunt still knows all the words.
you can email me at [e-mail] if you want me to try and get them from her.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:46 PM

All lyrics that differ from those already posted are welcome.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,MBW
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:11 PM

My grandfather, who would be 95 if he were still alive, taught all of us the version below. It seems to include extra verses. He was from Wells County, Indiana, where his family has resided for several generations.

Horse named Napoleon

I had a horse, and I named him Napoleon-
all on account of his Bone-y-parts.
He was sired by old Hambletonian
and oh when he did start.

His thighs were so thin you could look right through him,
His hair was as fine as the best of silk.
He pulled me around in my old milk wagon
and when I wanted to stop I'd yell out "milk!"

One fine day while in the city
along came a feller in a rig so neat.
I said, "Come on Napoleon,
let's rade race right down the street.

So away we went - helter skelter.
I was a-goin' at a thunderin' pace,
But as sure as a sinner, I was comin' out the winner
when a cuss yelled, "MILK!" and I lost the race.

Took my gal on a boad excursion.
Had a great time, for which we paid.
Peanuts, crackerjacks, and popcorn.
Rinsed it down with cold lemonade.

Got on the train to go to the city.
Went in the smoking car and set down.
Stuck my ticket in the brim of my hat,
and the gal' darned wind blew it out on the track.

Along came the conductor and said, "Give me your ticket or
I'll put you on the track."
I got ahead of that gal' darned critter.
I got a one way ticket and I'm not-a-going back!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Melanie
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 12:40 AM

I had a horse whose name was "Napoleon"
All on account of his boney parts
He was sired by old Hambletonian
Damned by all who saw him start

He was so thin you could see right through him
Hair on him was fine as silk
I drove him to my milk wagon
When I wanted to stop, I hollered out, "Milk!"

I was out ridin' one fine mornin'
'Long came a rooker, rigged so neat
Said he to me, "Come on old duffer,
We'll have a race right down the street"

Ohhh! I started out all helter-skelter
I had a smile all over my face
Sure as a sinner, I was comin' out the winner
When the cuss hollered, "Milk!"...And I lost... the... race

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Melanie
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 01:14 AM

I made the last post. Thought I'd also mention that this song came from my grandma, who got it from her Dad. His name was Hampton, and he was born and lived in northeastern Oregon. I think he was born in the 1880s. His heritage was English.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,vahnell
Date: 11 May 09 - 01:22 PM

Here is the song that my grandfather born in 1888 in western Pa. used to sing to me as a child and this was his version of the song.

I had a horse who's name was Napoleon
All on account of his bony parts
I hitched him up to an old milk wagon
and when you'd holler "milk" he stop that cart

As I was going down the street
when a friend I chanced to meet
So he said to me-"now look here Silas
let's have a race right down the street"

So off we started helter skelter
Me with a grin all over my face
You can bet your dinner I was coming in a winner
when a women hollered "MILK" and I lost that race!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 10:53 PM

I had a horse and his name was Napoleon,
All on account of his bony parts,
Bought him from a friend right down the street,

He was so thin you could see right through him.
His hair was as fine as the finest silk,
Hooked him up to my old milk wagon,
Taught him to stop when I hollered "MILK!"

We were going down the street one day,
When a fella' we did meet,
Said he to me;
"Let's have a race right down the street!'

We were going helter skelter,
we were going at thunderous pace.
When a fellow shouted, 'MILK!'
and stopped that race!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Jana
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 06:29 PM

I've been looking for a printed reference since I first posted back in 2005. Finally - after years of searching - I found one.

The reference is in a children's songbook called "A Ring Around the Moon" by Edith Fowke. Pg. 35.

The book was published by NC Press - the copy I bought is a Second Edition (1987). The first edition was printed in 1977 - but I don't know if the song is in it.

Here are the words in the book:

The Horse Named Napoleon

I once had a horse and his name was Napoleon;
Named on account of his bony parts.
Bought him from an old Post Indian
Known to everyone in these parts.

He was so thin you could see right through him,
Hair was as soft as the finest silk.
Hitched him to an old milk wagon,
Taught him to stop when I yelled "Milk!"

Along came a dude in the finest livery,
Said to me, "Son, would you run a race?"
Sure as a sinner I was coming in a winner
When the dude yelled "Milk!" and I lost that race.

My mom was thrilled when I mentioned it to her. Yes, this is likely a regionalization of the song - since its not the one she learned, or that many here have learned. Apparently the version in the book came from Kingston, Ontario in the 1940s.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,Laura Creighton
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 11:32 PM

My grandfather taught my father a different version in the 1940s.


I had a horse and I named him Napoleon,
named him because of his bonnie pride,
Hitched him to an old milk wagon.
Taught him to stop when I cried 'Milk!'.

Along comes the duke in the finest livery,
He asks me 'Do you want to race?'
And sure as I'm sinning I was coming in a winning ....
when the duke said 'Milk!' ...

   and I lost that race!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Horse called Napoleon
From: GUEST,999
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 04:23 AM

Marilyn Taylor Wilkinson
TUNE: Michael Finnigan
SITE SOURCE: Folklore Unit - People


NAPOLEON

I had a horse and his name was Napoleon
All on account of his bony parts
He was sired by an old Hambletonian,
Damned by everyone round these parts

He was so thin you could see right through him;
Hair as fine as the finest silk.
I hitched him up to an old milk wagon;
Taught him to stop when I hollered 'Milk!'

As I was goin' to town one morning,
Met a fellow with a rig so fine.
Said he, "I'll race your old Hambletonian,"
Said I, "You're on," and I fell in line.

Down the road a helter skelter ,
We were going at a hell of a pace.
Sure as I'm a sinner I was comin' out winner;
Someone hollered 'Milk!" and I lost that race.