BONNY BUNCH OF ROSES

by the margin of the ocean one pleasant morning in the month of June 
the charming singing blackbird his cheerful notes did sweetly tune 
it was there I spied a woman all overpowered by grief and woe 
conversing with young Bonaparte concerning the bonny bunch of roses-o

then up spoke young Napoleon as he took hold of his mother’s hand 
saying Mother dear be patient, for soon it’s I will take command 
I will raise a terrible army and through tremendous dangers go 
and in spite of all the universe I’ll conquer the bonny bunch of roses-o

when first you saw great Bonaparte you fell down on your bended knee 
you begged your father’s life of him and he granted it right manfully 
and then he took an army and o’er the frozen Alps did go 
he said I’ll conquer Moscow and come back for the bonny bunch of roses-o

he took five hundred thousand men and kings likewise to join his throng 
he was so well provided for, enough to sweep the world along 
but when he came to Moscow he was overpowered by driving snow 
and Moscow was a-blazing and he lost the bonny bunch of roses-o

so son don’t speak so venturesome for England she has a heart of oak 
and England Ireland Scotland, their unity has never been broke 
and now think on your father, in St Helena his body lies low 
and you may follow after so beware of the bonny bunch of roses-o