Boney Was a Warrior

Hugill says this might have been either a halyard song or a short haul or foresheet shanty. The story was always the same and no dirty versions seem to exist. It probably had its origin in one of the many street ballads that emanated from the Napoleonic Wars.

 

Boney was a Warrior

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

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

Boney went to Moscow
Away, a-yah!
All the way through ice and snow
Jean Francois!

He took with him his finest men
Away, a-yah!
And Boney had to turn again
Jean Francois!

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

Twas on the plains of Waterloo
Away, a-yah!
He met the Duke who put him through
Jean Francois!

They took him off to Saint Helen,
Away, a-yah!
And Boney nay returned again,
Jean Francois!

They packed him off to exile
Away, a-yah!
And Boney dies upon that Isle
Jean Francois 

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