Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior (chantey)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 07:38 PM

Paul Clayton sings Peace's version on his Whaling Songs LP. Dead Horse have a bug up his ass? Or have I missed something?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: CET
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 07:31 PM

I think the version in the DT is just fine. If you know another one, add it.

CET

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 06:54 PM

Isnt there a verse that goes :-

He beat the prussians fairly
He beat the British nearly

But indeed there are all sorts of variations of ALL the shanties !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: Peace
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 06:42 PM

Boney was a Warrior
Boney was a warrior
Away, a-yah!
A warrior and a terrier
Jean Francois!

Boney fought the Russians
Away, a-yah!
The Russians and the Prussians.
Jean Francois!

Moscow was a-blazing
Away, a-yah!
And Boney was a-raging.
Jean Francois!

Boney went to Elba
Away, a-yah!
Boney he came back again.
Jean Francois!

Boney went to Waterloo
Away, a-yah!
There he got his overthrow.
Jean Francois!

Then they took him off again
Away, a-yah!
Aboard the Billy Ruffian.
Jean Francois!

He went to Saint Helena,
Away, a-yah!
There he was a prisoner,
Jean Francois!

Boney broke his heart and died
Away, a-yah!
Away in Saint Helena
Jean Francois


Google Boney was a Warrior, lyrics

Lots of sites with the words, some of which differ slightly from that in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 06:14 PM

I am sure that shantymen would extemporise so there would not be a definitive version.

Most that I have heard differ between the first and third lines of each verse.

Boney was a warrior
A warrior a terrier

Boney beat the Prussians
The Austrians and Russians

Boney went to Waterloo
Met the boy who put him through

He met the Duke of Wellington
Then his downfall was begone

I used to know several other verses but haven't sung it for over 25 years and the senior moments are becoming senior half hours

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 05:40 PM

Dead Horse: Quit bitching abut the darkness and light a goddam candle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: el_punkoid_nouveau
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 04:43 PM

I learned it from that wonderful fount of all things traditional, the BBC! It appeared in Singing Together in 19something-or-other (when I was still in short trousers - the first time around!), from which I culled the following:

Boney was a warrior
Way ay ah
Boney was a warrior
John France wah

Boney beat the Prooshians

Boney beat the Rooshians

Boney went to Mossycow

Boney he came back again

Boney went to Elbow

Boney went to Waterloo

Boney he was sent away

Boney broke his heart and died

Boney was a warrior


From the Beeb, it must be authoritative!

epn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: Dead Horse
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 03:50 PM

....and the version in DT is to be deplored (Old Misery Guts again)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: Dead Horse
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 03:49 PM

French version is called Jean Francois de Nantes, & tells a different story about a sailor too posh for the rest of the crew, but ends up with the pox anyhoo....:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 11:49 AM

A piece of trivia. In the English translation of Asterix in Corsica, their Corsican friend is named Boneywasawarriorwayayix.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: CET
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 11:01 AM

I think this is the first folk song I ever heard. I can remember my sister singing it, when I was about 5 or 6. Where she learned it, I have no idea.

Thanks for the thread and the lyrics. I think I'll try to learn this for the Getaway.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: GUEST,David Hannam
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 10:55 AM

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 10:52 AM

In the DT

---

BONEY

Boney was a warrior
Away, a- yah!
A warrior and a tarrier
John Franswor!

Boney fought the Roo-shi-ans
The Rooshians and the Proo-shi-ans.

Moscow was a-blazing
And Boney was a-raging.

Boney went to Elbow
Boney he came back again.

Boney went to Waterloo
There he got his overthrow.

Then they took him off again
Aboard the Billy Ruffian.

Boney broke his heart and died
Away in Saint A-lee-ay-na

Give her the t'gan's'ls
Its a weary way to Baltimore.

Drive her, Cap'n, drive her
And bust the chafing leather.

Short drag chanty. This version From Colcord, Songs of American
Sailormen. Elbow = Elba; Billy Ruffian = H.M.S. Bellerophon;
t'gan's'ls = topgallantsails; A-lee-ay-na = Helena
Recorded by John and Lucy Allison
@sailor
filename[ BONEYNAP
TUNE FILE: BONEYNAP
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: Lyr Req: Boney Was a Warrior
From: DavidHannam
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 10:46 AM

Anyone got lyrics to Boney was a Warrior? There is a french adaptation and an english adaptation. Preferably the english would be good.