"The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (Roud 664, Laws J5) is a folk song written in the 1830s by an unknown balladeer from the British Isles, perhaps with Irish sympathies.
The earliest known version of the tune is in William Christie's Tradition Ballad Airs, Volume 2 (1881), but there is another tune, of Irish origin. There is an obvious difficulty in identifying the narrator's voice. It is a conversation between Napoleon's son (Napoleon II, 1811-1832, named King of Rome by his father upon birth) and his mother (Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, Napoleon's second wife, whom he married after divorcing Joséphine de Beauharnais).[citation needed] The sentiment is sympathetic to Napoleon but is also patriotic. Napoleon was defeated because he failed to beware of the 'bonny bunch of roses' - England, Scotland and Ireland whose unity cannot be broken.
The Irish, who were themselves in an unequal union with Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries, were divided in their attitudes towards Napoleon Bonaparte. Many thousands of Irishmen served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars in both English and Scottish regiments and in Irish ones like the Connaught Rangers and the Inniskilling Dragoons for example, many of them giving their lives in the struggle against Napoleon and displaying much valour in the process. However, at the same time, Napoleon knew that among certain people there was some bitterness towards British rule in Ireland, much as there was towards French rule in his native Corsica, as he well knew. Thus he decided to emulate the British in their support of Corsican rebels against Revolutionary France by supporting an heroic but ultimately doomed Irish rebellion, inspired by the egalitarian principles of the Enlightenment, which has come to be known as the 1798 rebellion. With this in mind, it should perhaps come as no great surprise then if Napoleon's bravery captivated the imagination of a segment of the Irish population, nor his defiance even in defeat. United Irishmen and their sympathisers it can perhaps be deduced also adored the tragic story of the romance between the doomed emperor and his second wife, Marie Louise, which would explain why her words tell the story of Bonaparte's fall. On the other hand, the song stresses the unity of the English, Scots and Irish, suggesting acknowledgement of a common British identity in opposition to France and Napoleon among the soldiers from those three nations at the time.
Field recordingsedit
The song was recorded from many traditional singers, mostly in the 1950s and 60s, and particularly in England, Ireland and Canada. Below is a brief selection:
Harry Cox of Norfolk, England, whose recording can be heard online here
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This article is about a song For the Fairport Convention album see The Bonny Bunch of Roses album The Bonny Bunch of Roses Roud 664 Laws J5 is a folk song written in the 1830s by an unknown balladeer from the British Isles perhaps with Irish sympathies The earliest known version of the tune is in William Christie s Tradition Ballad Airs Volume 2 1881 but there is another tune of Irish origin There is an obvious difficulty in identifying the narrator s voice It is a conversation between Napoleon s son Napoleon II 1811 1832 named King of Rome by his father upon birth and his mother Marie Louise Duchess of Parma Napoleon s second wife whom he married after divorcing Josephine de Beauharnais citation needed The sentiment is sympathetic to Napoleon but is also patriotic Napoleon was defeated because he failed to beware of the bonny bunch of roses England Scotland and Ireland whose unity cannot be broken Contents 1 Historical context 2 Field recordings 3 Popular recordings 4 Lyrics 5 References 6 External linksHistorical context editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message The Irish who were themselves in an unequal union with Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries were divided in their attitudes towards Napoleon Bonaparte Many thousands of Irishmen served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars in both English and Scottish regiments and in Irish ones like the Connaught Rangers and the Inniskilling Dragoons for example many of them giving their lives in the struggle against Napoleon and displaying much valour in the process However at the same time Napoleon knew that among certain people there was some bitterness towards British rule in Ireland much as there was towards French rule in his native Corsica as he well knew Thus he decided to emulate the British in their support of Corsican rebels against Revolutionary France by supporting an heroic but ultimately doomed Irish rebellion inspired by the egalitarian principles of the Enlightenment which has come to be known as the 1798 rebellion With this in mind it should perhaps come as no great surprise then if Napoleon s bravery captivated the imagination of a segment of the Irish population nor his defiance even in defeat United Irishmen and their sympathisers it can perhaps be deduced also adored the tragic story of the romance between the doomed emperor and his second wife Marie Louise which would explain why her words tell the story of Bonaparte s fall On the other hand the song stresses the unity of the English Scots and Irish suggesting acknowledgement of a common British identity in opposition to France and Napoleon among the soldiers from those three nations at the time Field recordings editThe song was recorded from many traditional singers mostly in the 1950s and 60s and particularly in England Ireland and Canada Below is a brief selection Harry Cox of Norfolk England whose recording can be heard online here Sam Larner of Norfolk England 1 Fred Jordan of Shropshire England 2 Phil Tanner of Llangenith South Wales 3 Robert Cinnamond of County Antrim Northern Ireland 4 Popular recordings editThere are many recorded versions including the Chieftains with Dolores Keane as the singer De Dannan Fairport Convention Glen Campbell Ewan MacColl Cyril Poacher Seamus Ennis Nic Jones Sean Garvey Maddy Prior and June Tabor in collaboration with the Oysterband John Wesley Harding and Norman amp Nancy Blake in collaboration with the Boys of the Lough Bob Dylan featured Paul Clayton s version on his Theme Time Radio Hour Lyrics editThe lyrics below are from 1881 5 Near by the swelling ocean One morning in the month of June While feather d warbling songsters Their charming notes did sweetly tune I overheard a lady Lamenting in sad grief and woe And talking with young Bonaparte Concerning the bonny Bunch of Roses O Thus spake the young Napoleon And grasp d his mother by the hand Oh mother dear have patience Till I am able to command I ll raise a numerous army And through tremendous dangers go And in spite of all the universe I ll gain the bonny Bunch of Roses O Oh son speak not so venturesome For England is the heart of oak Of England Scotland and Ireland The unity can ne er be broke And think you on your father In the Island where he now lies low He is not yet interred in France So beware of the bonny Bunch of Roses O Your father raised great armies And likewise kings did join the throng He was so well provided Enough to sweep the world along But when he went to Moscow He was o erpower d by drifting snow And though Moscow was blazing He lost the bonny Bunch of Roses O Oh mother adieu for ever I am now on my dying bed If I had liv d I d have been brave But now I droop my youthful head And when our bones do moulder And weeping willows o er us grow Its deeds to bold Napoleon Will stain the bonny Bunch of Roses O References edit The Bonny Bunch of Roses Roud Folksong Index S170059 The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Retrieved 2021 09 27 The Bonny Bunch of Roses Roud Folksong Index S229779 The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Retrieved 2021 09 27 The Bonny Bunch of Roses Roud Folksong Index S170053 The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Retrieved 2021 09 27 The Bonny Bunch of Roses Roud Folksong Index S170060 The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Retrieved 2021 09 27 Folkinfo page with musical notation Archived 2007 01 07 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit Bonny Bunch of Roses 19th century broadside alternate lyrics Nic Jones The Bonny Bunch of Roses on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Bonny Bunch of Roses amp oldid 1158397956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
