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Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris

[ Roud 1626 / Song Subject MAS903 ; Master title: Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris ; Ballad Index GC089 ; Bodleian Roud 1626 ; DT NAPOLBON ; Mudcat 32702 ; trad.]

Alan Helsdon: Vaughan Williams in Norfolk Volume 1

Jim Mageean and Johnny Collins sang Napoleon Bonaparte in 1979 on their Sweet Folk and Country album Make the Rafters Roar. They noted:

An Irish ballad which was collected in Bangor, North Wales, from the singing of Captain Tommy Flynn of County Mayo. It is still very popular in Bangor and the locals’ harmonious renderings of it may often be heard issuing forth from the Public Bar of the King’s Arms.

Crows sang Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris in a live radio recording from the early 1980s. It was included in 2016 on their WildGoose anthology Time to Rise. They noted:

James [Patterson] found this when researching in the library at Cecil Sharp House but can’t now remember which volume it was found in. He has, however, discovered a heavily annotated typescript which shows that some 4 ½ verses were cut and the remainder of the song re-ordered in the version Crows performed!

Steve Turner sang Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris in 1984 on his Fellside album Eclogue and in 2012, with nearly identical verses, on his Tradition Bearers album Rim of the Wheel. He noted on the latter album:

I’ve been singing this song for so long that I can’t remember where I got the tune from. I got the words from a broadside that I found in Manchester Central library in the early 70s and the accompaniment was [Oliver Knight]’s idea after 35 years of singing it a cappella. I assume the broadside has Irish origins as Napoleon is put very much on a pedestal here and steeped in admiration for his exploits. It was first collected in Newfoundland in 1952 by Kenneth Peacock.

Bob Webb sang Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris and played Bonaparte’s Retreat on his 2000 album Bank Trollers. He noted:

A ‘common man’ who aspired to empire, Napoleon Bonaparte’s charisma inspired musicians, and sailors, for half a century. Bonaparte’s Retreat, played on the MacCann-duet concertina, supports Bess Lomax Hawes’s observation that the United States is “a nation of bagpipers without pipes”.

Frank Harte sang Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris in 2001 on his album My Name Is Napoleon Bonaparte.

Jon Wilks sang Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris in a love recording from the Albion Rooms on his 2026 download album Bones. He noted:

Recorded in July 2024 at the Albion Rooms in Margate for Hudson Records’ Hudson Club series. This song was common in my set around this time. I learnt it while touring with Martin Carthy in 2023—not from him, though he was talking about and singing Napoleonic ballads a great deal. I decided I needed one of my own and found this, hoping he didn’t know it. He did, of course. He knows them all. A filmed version of this performance can also be found on YouTube.

Lyrics

Jim Mageean and Johnny Collins sing Napoleon Bonaparte

My name’s Napoleon Bonaparte, I’m the conqueror of all nations,
I’ve banished German legions and sent Kings from their thrones.
I’ve banished Dukes and Earls and splendid congregations
But now I am transported to St Helena’s shore.

My golden eagles were torn down by Wellington’s allied armies,
O’er Russian hills through frost and snow I still my laurels wore.
But I severely felt the rod through meddling with the house of God,
Coin and golden images in thousands down I tore.

I stole Malta’s Golden Gates and did the work of God’s disgrace,
But if hell give me time and space to him back I will restore.
Some say the cause of my downfall was the parting of my consort,
but to wed the German’s daughter did grieve my heart full sore.

But the female frame I ne’er shall blame for she ne’er did me á shame
And she saw me in battle flame and she did me adore.

Steve Turner sings Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris

Farewell you splendid citadel metropolis called Paris
Where Phoebus every morning shoots forth her gilded beams
Where Flora’s bright aurora is advancing from the
Orient
With fragrant* light adorning the pure shining streams.

At eve the centaur does retire to where the ocean gilds like fire
And the universe stands to admire her merchandise in store
Commanding Flora’s fragrance the fertile fields to decorate
And to illuminate the royal Corsican again upon the French shore.

My name’s Napoleon Bonaparte, the conqueror of nations
I have banished German legions and I drove kings from their thrones
I have conquered dukes and earls and splendid congregations
But now they have transported me to St Helena’s shore.

Like Hannibal I crossed the Alps the burning sands and rocky cliffs
Over Russian hills through frost and snow I still the laurel wore
I’m in a desert island where rats the devil do affright
Yet I hope to shine in armour bright through Europe once more.

Some say the cause of my downfall was parting from my consort
To wed that German’s daughter who wounded my heart full sore
I did steal from Malta’s golden gates I did the works of God disgrace
But if he gives me time and place back to him I’ll restore.

My golden eagles were pulled down by Wellington’s allied army
My troops all in disorder [they] could no longer stand the field
I was sold that very afternoon, on the eighteenth day of June
Through lack of reinforcements I was forced for to yield.

But I am an allied oak, with fire and sword I made them smoke.
I have conquered Dutch and Danes and I’ve surprised the Grand Signor
I defeated Austrians and Russians, both Portuguese and Prussians
Like the great King Alexander or Caesar of yore.

For full three days I stood the plain my freedom’s cause for to maintain
Many thousands there I did leave slain and covered in their gore
I never fled without revenge nor to the allied army cringed
But now my sword is sheathed and Paris is no more.