{"id":5186,"date":"2020-09-11T17:37:28","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T17:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=5186"},"modified":"2020-10-24T22:16:29","modified_gmt":"2020-10-24T22:16:29","slug":"napoleon-talks-of-war-boys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/napoleon-talks-of-war-boys\/","title":{"rendered":"Napoleon talks of war, boys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>WE\u2019VE SWEPT THE SEAS<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td> 1860<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>JB Geoghegan<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>JB Geoghegan<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN13260<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>JB Geoghegan<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Source Singers<\/strong>
George, Mr 1913 England : Berkshire
Wilcock, Walter 1914 England : London<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Napoleon talks of war, boys,\nAnd boasts his mighty force;\nBut vain his aim, despite his name,\nTo ride the world's high horse,\nWhile waters wash shore, boys, Our own we will retain\u2014 \nWe've swept the seas before, boys, And so we can again.\n\nAnd so we can, so we can,\nSo we can again,\nWe've swept the seas before, boys,\nAnd so we can again.\n<\/em>\nNapoleon talks of war, boys,\nAnd of his fleet does boast;\nHe thinks it is quite easy\nFor to land upon our coast.\nBut let those Frenchmen try to come\nAcross the briny main;\nWe have swept the seas before, boys,\nAnd so we can again.\n\nNapoleon talks of war, boys,\nHis threats no fear imparts;\nHe may have money, ships, and men\u2014\nBut has he British hearts?\nAnd should the eagle soar, boys,\nTo lord it o'er the main,\nWe've clippd his wings before, boys,\nAnd so we can again\n\nNapoleon talks of war, boys,\nBut at him we can smile,\nRecalling back those glorious deeds\u2014\nTrafalgar and the Nile.\nWith Waterloo, and more, boys,\nOn many a well-fought plain,\nWe've beat the French before, boys,\nAnd so we can again.\n\nNapoleon talks of war, boys,\nThough perhaps he did intend\nTo strike\u2014and yet he's not the first\nWho's turnd to strike his friend.\nBut shoud his cannon roar, boys,\nUndaunted we'll remain;\nWe've beat such foes before, boys,\nAnd so we can again\n\nNapoleon talks of war, boys,\nBut let him bear in mind,\nThat England, Ireland, and Scotland,\nIn union they are joined.\nAnd the freedom that we boast of,\nThose countries will maintain,\nWe've beat the world before, boys,\nAnd so we can again.<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Most folksongs about Napoleon are about Napoleon I, this one is about Napoleon III. It was collected from source singers during the early 20th century: once by Cecil Sharp from the singing of Walter Wilcock and once by Clive Carey from the singing of a Mr George. Sharp includes the note: evidently a “patriotic” song sung in the halls<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharp was correct – this is one of a number of nationalistic songs (often labelled “patriotic” on songsheets etc) written by JB Geoghegan<\/a> – he seemed to have great success with this type of song. This one was very widely printed on broadsides and cheap song-books in the 19th century. Others  include: England with all thy faults I love thee still<\/em>, Volunteers rouse & be ready<\/em>, The Name of England<\/em>, etc.  None of these seem to have had the same impact as Napoleon<\/em>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geoghegan was advertising the song in the Glasgow Herald in late 1859 and early 1860:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Glasgow Herald 15 Dec 1859- 3 Feb 1860<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The song was written at a time when the Rifle Volunteer Movement was growing rapidly. Napoleon’s nephew Napoleon III was in charge in France, and seemed intent on expanding the French empire. There were invasion fears, and newspapers like The Times<\/em> and the Manchester Guardian <\/em>led calls for a new defensive volunteer force. The regular British Army was spread throughout the Empire, and there were concerns that there weren’t enough troops at home to defend against a possible invasion. The Times<\/em> in particular was very clear that it saw this new force as being based on the respectable elements in society: any form of conscription which would result in large numbers of trained, armed working class people was not to be desired. The continental revolutions of 1848 were fresh in the memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song was very quickly adopted by these new volunteer forces, and the Glasgow Herald of July 1860 reports how the Southern Rifles cheerfully marched on to the steering strains of “Napoleon talks of war, Boys”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Searching the main London-based Music Hall paper, The Era<\/em>, gives no hint of the popularity of this song, or any clue as to whether any other professional Music Hall singers had it in their repertoire. (It’s pure speculation, but this may reflect the London-centric nature of The Era<\/em> – it may be worth exploring in The Magnet<\/em>, a publication that focused on the Music Hall outside London but which is not available online as far as I know).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However , this was clearly a popular song , as local newspapers show it regularly featuring in amateur concerts and penny readings (entertainments that cost a penny, usually of an “improving” sort) in the 1860s and 70s  – if you’re interested there’s a list at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song is well remembered at Hunslet Rugby League Football Club, where it is the official club anthem. As the song has been around since 1859, they are probably right to claim it as the oldest club anthem in rugby league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n