| Play/Download Music File Lesley Nelson |
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| This shanty is also known as Boney. Hugill says it was a halyard and a short haul shanty. He speculates that it had its origins in the street ballads of the Napoleonic Wars. (Boney refers to Napoleon Bonaparte.)
Most versions are fairly historically accurate, however, Joanna Colcord states there is a version in which Boney crosses the Rocky Mountains and is exiled because of a woman. John Franzo is probably a corruption of Jean Francoise. |
Boney was a warrior, Oh aye, oh, Boney was a warrior, John Franzo. Boney marched to Moscow, Oh aye, oh, Boney marched to Moscow, John Franzo. Moscow all a-blazing, Oh aye, oh, Moscow all a-blazing, John Franzo. Boney had to turn again, Oh aye, oh, Boney had to turn again, John Franzo. Boney went to Waterloo Oh aye, oh, Boney went to Waterloo John Franzo. Boney met a warrior, Oh aye, oh, Boney met a warrior, John Franzo. Boney had to run away, Oh aye, oh, Boney had to run away, John Franzo. Boney was a warrior, Oh aye, oh, Boney was a warrior, John Franzo. Boney was a prisoner, Oh aye, oh, Boney was a prisoner, John Franzo. Boney broke his heart and died, Oh aye, oh, Boney broke his heart and died, John Franzo. |
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| From Fifty Sailor's Songs or Chanties and Shanties from the Seven Seas See Bibliography for full information. |
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