The Bonny Bunch of Roses
"The Bonny Bunch of Roses" (Roud 664, Laws J5) is a folk song written in the 1830s by an unknown balladeer from the British Isles, perhaps with Irish sympathies.
The earliest known version of the tune is in
William Christie's Tradition Ballad Airs, Volume 2 (1881), but there is another tune, of Irish origin. There is an obvious difficulty in identifying the narrator's voice. It is a conversation between Napoleon's son (Napoleon II, 1811-1832, named King of Rome by his father upon birth) and his mother (Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, Napoleon's second wife, whom he married after divorcing Joséphine de Beauharnais).[citation needed
] The sentiment is sympathetic to Napoleon but is also patriotic. Napoleon was defeated because he failed to beware of the 'bonny bunch of roses' - England, Scotland and Ireland whose unity cannot be broken.
Historical context
United Irishmen and their sympathisers it can perhaps be deduced also adored the tragic story of the romance between the doomed emperor and his second wife, Marie Louise, which would explain why her words tell the story of Bonaparte's fall. On the other hand, the song stresses the unity of the English, Scots and Irish, suggesting acknowledgement of a common British identity in opposition to France and Napoleon among the soldiers from those three nations at the time.
Field recordingsThe song was recorded from many traditional singers , mostly in the 1950s and 60s, and particularly in England, Ireland and Canada. Below is a brief selection:
Popular recordingsThere are many recorded versions, including Paul Clayton 's version on his Theme Time Radio Hour.
LyricsThe lyrics below are from 1881.[5]
References
External links
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