“The Bonny Bunch of Roses”

Description

Young Napoleon promises his mother that he will capture "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (Great Britain). She warns him of his father's disaster in Russia and of the strength of the British. They sorrowfully prepare for the lad's death.

Notes

Zimmermann: "The bunch of roses is usually said to symbolize England, Scotland, and Ireland, or the red coats of the English soldiers. In a ballad printed both in England and in Ireland, 'The Grand Conversation on Napoleon', we find the lines: 'The bunch of roses did advance And boldly entered into France,' alluding to Napoleon's enemies after Waterloo."

The ballad is recorded on one of the CD's issued around the time of the bicentenial of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. See:

Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (on Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte," Hummingbird Records HBCD0027 (2001))

The probable recording date and id for Hayward's record is provided by Bill Dean-Myatt, MPhil. compiler of the Scottish National Discography. - BS

Historical references

• 1805 - Battle of Trafalgar ends Napoleon's hopes of invading Britain
• 1811 - Birth of Napoleon Francis Joseph Charles Bonaparte (Napoleon II)
• 1812-1813 - Napoleon's Russian Campaign
• June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon forced into exile
• 1821 - Death of Napoleon I
• July 22, 1832 - Death of Napoleon II

Same tune

• The Bunch of Rushes, O! (per broadsides Bodleian Harding B 17(350a), Bodleian Harding B 11(18), Bodleian Harding B 11(4381))

Cross references

• cf. "The New Bunch of Loughero" (theme)

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 11(403), "The Bonny Bunch of Roses, O!" ("By the dangers of the ocean"), J. Harkness (Preston) , 1840-1866; also 2806 c.16(296), Harding B 16(31d), Harding B 11(404), Harding B 11(406), Harding B 11(405), "Bonny Bunch of Roses, O"; Harding B 17(350a), Harding B 11(18), Firth b.25(245), Harding B 11(4381), "Young Napoleon" or "The Bonny Bunch of Roses"; Firth b.27(457/458) View 1 of 4, "Bonny Bunch of Roses"; Firth b.27(8), "Young Napoleon"
• LOCSinging, as109240, "Young Napoleon" or "The Bonny Bunch of Roses," Taylor's Song Mart (London), 19C
• Murray, Mu23-y1:115, "Bonny Bunch of Roses," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C

Recordings

• Sam Larner, "Bonny Bunch of Roses" (on SLarner01)
• Cyril Poacher, "The Bonny Bunch O' Roses" (on Voice08)
• Brigid Tunney, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (on IRTunneyFamily01)

References

1. Laws J5, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses"
2. Greenleaf/Mansfield 84, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Creighton-NovaScotia 68, "Bonny Bunch of Roses O" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Warner 3, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses-O" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Scott-BoA, pp. 105-107, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses O" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 202-203, "Bonny Bunch of Roses, O" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Hodgart, p. 200, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text)
8. Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 207-209, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses-O" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. OLochlainn 16, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Zimmermann 32B, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses, O" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Moylan 184, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text, 1 tune)
12. Hayward-Ulster, pp. 17-18, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text)
13. Ord, pp. 301-302, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text)
14. MacSeegTrav 85, "The Bonnie Bunch of Roses" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
15. Peacock, pp. 988-989, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text, 1 tune)
16. Mackenzie 72, "The Bonnie Bunch of Roses" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
17. O'Conor, p. 127, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (1 text)
18. DT 392, BONBUNCH* BONBUNC2
19. ADDITIONAL: Richard Hayward, Ireland Calling (Glasgow,n.d.), pp. 18-19, "The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (text, music and reference to Regal Zonophone recording [probably Regal Zono MR-2830 recorded ca. May 1938])
20. Roud #664
21. BI, LJ05