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07 Jan 11 - 06:38 AM (#3069146) Subject: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST, Sminky Now a rugby song, apparently, the original was written by Joseph Bryan Geoghegan c.1860. I'd be very grateful for the words to either. |
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07 Jan 11 - 03:48 PM (#3069450) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: Steve Gardham Sminky JBG's original should be on the Bodl. It was quite widely printed. If you can't find it there let me know and I'll post the words for you. |
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07 Jan 11 - 04:27 PM (#3069473) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: Q (Frank Staplin) Steve is correct, several copies at the Bodleian. (None seem to credit Geohegan) |
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07 Jan 11 - 04:41 PM (#3069483) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST,^&* Click here for a New Zealand 1888 reference in the context of a minstrel show. |
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08 Jan 11 - 04:43 PM (#3070108) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: Steve Gardham Sminky, I must admit to being a little confused here. Why would someone write a song in 1868 that says 'Napoleon talks of war, boys'? The song mentions Waterloo so is at least post '15. Does it therefore refer to Napoleon III and if so I always thought Napoleon III was a great friend of Victoria and lived in England??? Historically challenged, Steve |
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08 Jan 11 - 05:44 PM (#3070148) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST,squeezer Yet there seems to have been a temporary blip in the relationship around the late 1850s-early 1860s. I have a letter from an ancestor in America writing to his family in England in which he expects war to be declared any time. I was told on a tour of HMS Warrior (1861) that her main purpose was to counter the French threat. |
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09 Jan 11 - 03:38 PM (#3070743) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: Steve Gardham Thanks Squeezer! What are ye squeezin? |
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10 Jan 11 - 04:45 AM (#3071113) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST, Sminky Thanks guys. Mis-typing 'Napoleon' is one possible reason I didn't find it earlier at the Bodleian. Here's the original announcement: Just Out, Price 1s 1d each, post free New National Song NAPOLEON TALKS OF WAR BOYS; and New Patriotic Song, VOLUNTEERS, RISE AND BE READY, Dedicated to the Rifle Corps, Written and sung by J.B.Geoghegan Glasgow: Morison Kyle, 108 Queen St. Glasgow Herald, Sat Jan 28, 1860 |
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10 Jan 11 - 07:32 PM (#3071728) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST,squeezer English, Steve. Yay! (must get my cookie back ...) |
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11 Jan 11 - 04:43 AM (#3071926) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST, Sminky .......and I must get my brain back - the other song is entitled VOLUNTEERS, ROUSE AND BE READY. Napoleon Talks is mentioned on a playbill of 1861. There's also a YouTube version of the rugby song. |
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11 Jan 11 - 09:26 AM (#3072079) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: Steve Gardham English? Pah! Call that squeezin? |
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15 Jan 11 - 12:03 AM (#3074915) Subject: Lyr Add: NAPOLEON TALKS OF WAR, BOYS From: Jim Dixon My transcription from a broadside in the Bodleian collection. They have about 9 different editions. I closely compared 4 of them and found them practically identical. NAPOLEON TALKS OF WAR, BOYS 1. Napoleon talks of war, boys, And boasts his mighty force; But vain his aim, despite his name, To ride the world's high horse. While waters wash the shore, boys, Our own we will retain. We've swept the seas before, boys, And so we can again. CHORUS: And so we can, so we can, So we can again. We've swept the seas before, boys, And so we can again. 2. Napoleon talks of war, boys, And of his fleet does boast. He thinks it is quite easy For to land upon our coast; But let those Frenchmen try to come Across the briny main! We've swept the seas before, boys, And so we can again. 3. Napoleon talks of war, boys. His threats no fear imparts. He may have money, ships, and men, But has he British hearts? And should the Eagle soar, boys, To lord it o'er the main, We've clipp'd his wings before, boys, And so we can again. 4. Napoleon talks of war, boys, But at him we can smile, Recalling back those glorious days: Trafalgar and the Nile. With Waterloo and more, boys, On many a well-fought plain, We've beat the French before, boys, And so we can again. 5. Napoleon talks of war, boys, Though perhaps he don't intend To strike—and yet he is not the first Who's turn'd to strike his friend; But should his cannon roar, boys, Undaunted we'll remain. We've beat such foes before, boys, And so we will again. 6. Napoleon talks of war, boys, But let him bear in mind, That England, Ireland, and Scotland, In Union they are joined; And the freedom that we boast of Those countries will maintain. We've beat the world before, boys, And so we can again. [Note: The Bodleian Library indexes this song under the following subject headings: (1) French invasion scares, 1852; (2) Napoleon, III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873.] |
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15 Jan 11 - 03:25 PM (#3075278) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: Jim Dixon The British Library has the sheet music, described thus: System number: 004355977 Cataloguing level: Minimal record Author – personal: Geoghegan, Joseph B. Title: Napoleon talks of War, Boys, national song written, composed ... by J. B. Geoghegan ... Symphonies & accompaniments for the piano forte by F. B. Yahr. Publisher/year: Glasgow: Morison Kyle Music Repository, [c. 1860] Physical descr.: 4p. ; fol. Added name: Yahr, F. B. Shelfmark: H.1650.pp.(1.) [WorldCat.org doesn't find it in any other library.] |
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16 Jan 11 - 11:27 AM (#3075705) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh I think there are several gun-emplacements along the Southern coast of England, constructed at the time mentioned. While the writer was primarily seeking rhymes for "again", there does seem, in the stanza concerning the Nile & Waterloo, an echo of "MacPherson's Fareweel"; "What is Death but parting breath? On many a bluidy plain I've braved his face, and in this place, I'll brave him once again" |
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30 Jul 14 - 11:06 AM (#3646612) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST,Eric Smallwood My Dad, born in Hunslet in 1919, & a follower of Hunslet RLFC during his life, regularly referred to this song during his life. I'd never bothered looking up either the words or its history until now, because, sadly he died last week. So, it has Napoleonic history - strange origins for some sport clubs' supporters anthems, aren't there? Somebody should make a CD of the Rugby League ones, because you simply don't get to hear them in their majesty on TV highlites programmes, or even hear the words clearly at a match. |
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30 Jul 14 - 08:09 PM (#3646779) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Napoleon Talks of War, Boys From: GUEST,Squeezer Eric, can you tell us about any other sporting anthems like this which are still sung by League supporters? |