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THE WARLIKE LADS OF RUSSIA
Trad arr Nic Jones
See also Digitrad
When Bonaparte from Russia into Moscow went,
With his troops in full glee, and their minds fully bent
To take the Russian country, O, they were full employ'd,
But Russians fought against them and soon they were destroy'd.
CHORUS: The warlike lads of Russia, they fought all in one mind;
Made Bonaparte to run and leave his troops behind.
When from Moscow City the Russians did retreat,
Neither Boney nor his men not any thing could get.
When from Moscow City the Russians took flight,
They set the town on fire and burnt it down that night. CHORUS
Burnt all away before them, and every foot they set,
Lest Boney near his army no shelter could they get.
Damn it, says bold Russia, I'll have you in a crack.
I'll make you remember this before you do get back. CHORUS
So in a little while, O, the Russians did attack,
Against Boney and his army, kill'd, took, and drove 'em back.
But the action being so hot, from right, left, front, and rear,
O damn it, says poor Boney, I'll stay no longer here. CHORUS
So off went Bonaparte as hard as he could ride.
The poor Frenchmen looked after him, saying, 'tis very hard
You should bring us all up here, and leave us in such a state.
You ought to stop along with us and share the same fate. CHORUS
But away went Boney as hard as he could run,
O'er hedges and ditches; left horses, men, and guns.
His boxes and matches, ammunition and waggons too,
He left them all behind him. What else could he do? CHORUS
There full 80,000 men from me they've kill'd or ta'en,
Besides 10,000 horses fine and 200 pieces of cannon;
But yet I must to Paris. To France I must advance,
For if I don't, I may be sure they'll teach me how to dance. CHORUS
Now to conclude this wondrous tale and finish my song,
Boney's men in Russia swore they wish they'd hold of him.
The cruelest death they'd put him to that e'er a man befell.
Stop, stop a bit, says Boney. I'm now clear of you all. CHORUS
Note: Nic Jones writes in the notes to Unearthed how broadsides gave him freedom to compose around the text. His source material is the version below. Nic's version appeared first on a Folk Review compilation available only to new subscribers of fRoots Magazine. Versions by other artists are almost certainly derivitive of Nic's version.
BONAPARTE'S ESCAPE FROM RUSSIA

When Bonaparte from Russia into Moscow went,
With his troops in full glee, and their minds fully bent
To take the Russian country, O, they were full employ'd,
But Russians fought against them and soon they were destroy'd.

CHORUS: The warlike lads of Russia, they fought all in one mind;
Made Bonaparte to run and leave his troops behind.
When from Moscow City the Russians did retreat,
Neither Boney nor his men not any thing could get.
When from Moscow City the Russians took flight,
They set the town on fire and burnt it down that night. CHORUS
Burnt all away before them, and every foot they set,
Lest Boney near his army no shelter could they get.
Damn it, says bold Russia, I'll have you in a crack.
I'll make you remember this before you do get back. CHORUS
So in a little while, O, the Russians did attack,
Against Boney and his army, kill'd, took, and drove 'em back.
But the action being so hot, from right, left, front, and rear,
O damn it, says poor Boney, I'll stay no longer here. CHORUS
So off went Bonaparte as hard as he could ride.
The poor Frenchmen looked after him, saying, 'tis very hard
You should bring us all up here, and leave us in such a state.
You ought to stop along with us and share the same fate. CHORUS
But away went Boney as hard as he could run,
O'er hedges and ditches; left horses, men, and guns.
His boxes and matches, ammunition and waggons too,
He left them all behind him. What else could he do? CHORUS
There full 80,000 men from me they've kill'd or ta'en,
Besides 10,000 horses fine and 200 pieces of cannon;
But yet I must to Paris. To France I must advance,
For if I don't, I may be sure they'll teach me how to dance. CHORUS
Now to conclude this wondrous tale and finish my song,
Boney's men in Russia swore they wish they'd hold of him.
The cruelest death they'd put him to that e'er a man befell.
Stop, stop a bit, says Boney. I'm now clear of you all. CHORUS
THE WARLIKE LADS OF RUSSIA

It's when Napoleon Bonaparte to Moscow he went,
To take the Russian country his mind was fully bent.
To take the Russian country his men were full employed,
But those Russians fought so valiantly that Boney they destroyed.

CHORUS: Those warlike lads of Russia, they fought all in one mind,
Made Bonaparte to run and leave his troops behind.
Those warlike lads of Russia, they fought all in one mind,
Made Bonaparte to run and leave his troops behind.
Those Russian lads fought bravely and they drove Napoleon back.
That bold Napoleon Bonaparte, he soon was sent to pack.
The fighting being so fierce, left and right and front and rear,
"Oh, damn you all!" says Bonaparte. "I'll stay no longer here."
Away then went poor Bonaparte, as fast as he could run.
His armies were surrounded, all his horses men and guns.
His wagons and his cannons and his ammunition too.
He left them all behind him. Oh, what could poor Boney do?
And on then went poor Bonaparte, as fast as he could ride.
The Frenchmen all looked after him, saying, "Oh, it hurts our pride
To think he'd lead us up here and then part in such a haste.
We never thought we'd see the day when we were so disgraced."
Says Boney, "Well, it's of my troops there's eighty thousand taken,
Ten thousand of my horses and two hundred of my cannon.
No more among these Russian lads will I dare make advance,
For if I do, I may be sure they'll teach me how to dance.
THE WARLIKE LADS OF RUSSIA

Chorus: Those warlike lads of Russia they fought all in one mind
Made Bonaparte to run and leave his troops behind

When Napoleon Bonaparte to Moscow he went
With all his troops and all his men their minds were fully bent
To take the Russian country they were full employed
But the Russians fought against them and soon did them destroy
In a little while the Russians did attack
Against Bonaparte and all his men, they fought him and they drove him back
The action being so hot right and left and front and rear
A damn you all says Bonaparte I'll stay no longer here
Away then went poor Bonaparte as fast as he could run
The poor Frenchmen looked after him, left horses men and guns
His boxes and his matches, ammunition wagons too
He left them all behind them, what could poor Boney do
Away then went poor Bonaparte as fast as he could ride
The poor Frenchmen looked after him, saying oh it's very hard
To think he'd lead us all up here and leave us to our fate
You'd think he'd stop along with us and help us in our state
Here's 80,000 men from them they've killed and they have taken
Likewise 10,000 horses and 200 bits of cannon
Nevermore to Lyon, Paris or French Flanders there advance
For if I do I may be sure they'll teach me how to dance
Now it's to conclude and thus finish off my song
Old Boney's men and Russia wish they had a hold of him
The cruellest death they'd put him to that e'er a man befell
Oh damn you all says Bonaparte I'm clear of you all