> A.L. Lloyd > Songs > Heenan and Sayers
> Martyn Wyndham-Read > Songs > Sayers’ and Heenan’s Great Fight

Heenan and Sayers

[ Roud 2148 ; Laws H20 ; Ballad Index LH20 ; trad.]

Roy Palmer, Jon Raven: The Rigs of the Fair

Heenan and Sayers describes the the brutal boxing fight between American John Carmel Heenan ‘the Benicia Boy’ and British Tom Sayers at Farnborough, Hampshire, on 17 April 1860.

A.L. Lloyd, accompanied by Steve Benbow on guitar, recorded Heenan and Sayers in 1962 for his and Ewan MacColl’s Topic EP Gamblers and Sporting Blades. It was reissued in the USA on the Riverside LP Champions and Sporting Blades and in 1998 on the Topic CD Bold Sportsmen All. Lloyd noted on the original EP:

The fight between the heavyweight champion Tom Sayers and John C. Heenan, the Benicia Boy, took place on 17 April 1860, at Farnborough, Hampshire. In the 37^th round, the friends of both fighters stormed into the ring and had to be dispersed by the police. After four more rounds, the police again intervened, the fight was stopped, and the result was declared a draw. Several ballads described the battle of the giants. As a rule, the American versions favour Heenan, while English versions declare that only police intervention robbed Sayers of a glorious victory. The present ballad, sounding fairly impartial, awards the golden glove, fair and square, to Heenan.

Martyn Wyndham-Read sang Sayers’ and Heenan’s Great Fight in 1977 on the Broadside album English Sporting Ballads.

Sara Grey sang The Yankee and the Unicorn in 2013 on her Fellside album Down in Old Dolores. She noted:

From Lena Borne Fish. On the surface of the song is the boxing match between Thomas Sayers the heavyweight champion of England, against John C. Heenan ‘The Benicia Boy’ at Farnborough in Hampshire on 17 April 1860. The match lasted 37 rounds and came to an end when police intervened. The match was declared a draw. The fight was one of the most brutal in prize fighting history, putting to an end bare-fist fighting in England. On another level the song is a wonderful international rivalry between America and England. Ironically the combatants became good friends and went around fairgrounds doing demonstration matches. Heenan went on to fight Morrisey and Morrisey fought Heenan once and then got his henchmen to gang up on Heenan and beat him up. Perry, mentioned in verse 6 is Oliver Perry who in 1813 was supposed to command a fleet of ships to ward off the British for the control of Lake Erie and Ontario, but it never happened.

Jon Doran and The Northern Assembly (Heather Ferrier on piano accordion and Jordan Aikin on whistle) sang Heenan and Sayers on their eponymous 2024 album Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly. They noted:

John Heenan and Tom Sayers, both considered the best boxers in America and the UK had to offer, back when pugilism was illegal. Hundreds gathered in a field just outside Farnborough in 1860 to watch this fight, including notable characters such as Charles Dickens, and the Prince of Wales. It resulted in the founding of modern boxing as a sport.

This video shows them in the ring of the Dunston Teams amateur boxing club in November 2021:

Lyrics

A.L. Lloyd sings Heenan and Sayers

You ranting lads and sporting blades, come listen to my song.
I’m sure that it will please you well and it won’t detain you long.
’t was the seventeenth of April and thousands went with joy
To see the English champion and the bold Benicia Boy.

It was in the town of Farnborough all in the blooming spring,
When the burly English champion he stripped off in the ring.
He stripped to fight young Heenan, the gallant son of Troy,
And to try his English muscle on the bold Benicia Boy.

It was early in the morning before the cock did crow,
Like tigers into battle these gallant lads did go.
The blood if flew in torrents and never a blow they missed,
And they carried a bunch of thunderbolts well fastened in each fist.

It’s two to one on Sayers, the English cried with joy
As they saw the English champion floor the bold Benicia Boy.
But the tiger rose within him and lightning flashed his eye,
Saying, roll away old England but Tommy mind your eye.

They fought for two hours and a half, each proved himself a man,
And neither would give in while he’d a leg to stand.
But the fight was all in favour of the bold Benicia Boy
When the bobbies bolted in the ring and did his hopes destroy.

Tom Sayers said he soon would lick the bold Benicia Boy,
But Tom found out at Farnborough he’d have to mind his eye.
His friends they were so shaken when they saw the glorious battle
For Heenan cooked Sayers’ bacon and he made his daylights rattle.

There never were two better men and none could be more game,
They are both gallant heroes of honour and of fame.
Tom Sayers juggled cannonballs while he was good and strong
But Heenan played with lightning when his day’s work was done.

Jon Doran sings Heenan and Sayers

You rantin’ lads and sportin’ blades, come listen to my song,
I’m sure that it will please you well and it won’t detain you long.
’Twas the 17^th of April, and thousands came with joy,
to see the English champion and the bold Benicia Boy.

’Twas in the town of Farnborough all in the blooming spring,
when the burly English champion, he stripped down in the ring.
He stripped to fight young Heenan, that gallant son of Troy,
and to try his English muscle on the bold Benicia Boy.

’Twas early in the mornin’ before the cock did crow,
like tigers into battle these gallant lads did go,
The blood it flowed in torrents, and never a blow they missed,
and they carried a bunch of thunderbolts well-fastened in each fist.

It’s two to one on Sayers, the English cried with joy,
as they saw the English champion floor the Benicia Boy,
but the tiger rose within him and lightning flashed his eye,
saying, “Roar away old England, but Tommy, mind your eye.”

They never were two better men and none could be more game,
And neither would give in while the other did remain,
when the fight was all in favour of the bold Benicia boy,
then the bobbies bolted in the ring and did their hopes destroy.