Napoleon talks of war, boys

AKA WE’VE SWEPT THE SEAS
First Published 1860
Lyrics JB Geoghegan Music JB Geoghegan Roud RN13260

Music Hall Performers JB Geoghegan
Folk performances Source Singers
George, Mr 1913 England : Berkshire
Wilcock, Walter 1914 England : London		 

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 shore, boys, Our own we will retain— 
We've swept the seas before, boys, And so we can again.

And so we can, so we can,
So we can again,
We've swept the seas before, boys,
And so we can again.

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 have swept the seas before, boys,
And so we can again.

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 clippd his wings before, boys,
And so we can again

Napoleon talks of war, boys,
But at him we can smile,
Recalling back those glorious deeds—
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.

Napoleon talks of war, boys,
Though perhaps he did intend
To strike—and yet he's not the first
Who's turnd to strike his friend.
But shoud his cannon roar, boys,
Undaunted we'll remain;
We've beat such foes before, boys,
And so we can again

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.

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.

Sharp was correct – this is one of a number of nationalistic songs (often labelled “patriotic” on songsheets etc) written by JB Geoghegan – 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, Volunteers rouse & be ready, The Name of England, etc. None of these seem to have had the same impact as Napoleon…

Geoghegan was advertising the song in the Glasgow Herald in late 1859 and early 1860:

Glasgow Herald 15 Dec 1859- 3 Feb 1860

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 and the Manchester Guardian 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 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.

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”

Searching the main London-based Music Hall paper, The Era, 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 – it may be worth exploring in The Magnet, a publication that focused on the Music Hall outside London but which is not available online as far as I know).

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.

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.

Sources:

The anthem of Hunslet RLFC

Reports of the song being sung 1860-80:

  • 1864 At the annual concert of the Driffield Rifle Corps, sung by Mr Lunn, reported in the Hull Packet March 4
  • 1865 At the annual farmers dinner at the Bull Inn Woodbridge, sung by Mr J Collins, reported in the Ipswich Journal February 18
  • 1867 At the Working Men’s Temperance Society entertainment sung by Mr Watson, reported in the Dundee Courier November 18
  • 1868 At the Aston Penny Readings, sung by Mr Shepherd, reported in Jackson’s Oxford Journal February 15
  • 1868 At the Standlake Penny Readings by Mr Shepherd, reported in the Jackson’s Oxford Journal February 15
  • 1869 At the Woodditton Penny Readings by Mr T Hobbs (encored) reported in the Bury and Norwich Post April 13
  • 1870 At the Chippenham Penny Readings by Mr A Gittins, reported in the Bury and Norwich Post February 22
  • 1871 At the Worminghall Penny Readings by Mr Stallworthy, reported in the Jackson’s Oxford Journal January 7
  • 1877 At a concert for Penwortham Sunday School by Mr W Hutchinson, Preston Chronicle November 24
  • 1878 Annual supper of the Wrawby Brass Band, sung by Mr C Taylor, reported in the Hull Packet January 25
  • 1878 At the Emmanuelle Church Congregational T Party by Mr Hutchinson, reported in the Preston Chronicle February 2
  • 1880 at an entertainment of the Literary Scientific and Mutual Improvement Society, Matfen sung by Mr balding (with much spirit) reported in the Newcastle Courant November 19