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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Belgium
Artist: Sam Eskin
Author: traditional
Label: Folkways
Year: 1951
On LP Sea Shanties and Loggers' Songs. Roud #485. Well known among British and American sailors in the days after Waterloo. The song is about Napoleon (Boney) Bonaparte. Lyrics mention the ship in Plymouth harbor (The Bellerephon, as Billy Ruffion) where Boney lay waiting before sailing off to Saint Helena. The tune was probably lifted from Breton shanty Jean-François de Nantes, or came it too early for French sailors to make fun of their fallen emperor?
Covers:
Paul Clayton [on Whaling and Sailing Songs from the Days of Moby Dick]
Marcel Nobla [as Jean-François de Nantes, 'chant à hisser' (song to haul) from songbook Chansons de bord (1927; a dirtier version of this same Breton shanty was collected in Chansons de la voile sans voiles (1935); the tragic story of a sailor back home after 20 months on a whaler, who traded all his money for a venerial disease]
Marc Ogeret [idem, on Chansons salées de la Marine à voiles]
Compagnons du Large [idem]
A.L. Lloyd [with chorus; young A.L. spent a season on a whaler]
Mikaël Yaouzak [as Jean-François de Nantes on Chants de Marins; Breton version]
Tonnerre de Brest [idem on cassette Les Plus Beaux Chants de Marine]
Maddy Prior [as Boney in song cycle With Napoleon In Russia on CD Ravenchild]
Christian Desnos [as Jean-François de Nantes, the saltiest version]
Jack Shit [on Hal Willner's shanty comp Rogue's Gallery]
Tonus [as Jean-François de Nantes on Hits paillards, Vol. 4]
Jean Paul Ferrec [idem on Chansons Bretonnes (très) salées, vol. 1]
Jake Xerxes Fussell [as Boney, with a verse leading the fallen emperor across the Rockies]
Here's some of the saltiest lyric lines in Breton Boney Jean-François de Nantes:
Et Jean-François qui bande, les couilles frémissantes
Met la fille en carène (below deck), lui plant' un mat d' misaine (foc'sail mast)
Il vid' une bouteille, il rebond à merveille
La grande Ursule il baise, puis il encul' Thérèse
Son foutre qui déferle, étouffe les femelles
Montre et chaine s'envole, mais il prend la vérole.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Belgium