Lyr Req/Add: Horse called Napoleon

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,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
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 10:39 PM

Are you still loking for word to napolean ?

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:
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,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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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,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: 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 - 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: 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,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
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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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!