Boney and the Sailors' Songbook
‘Boney Was a Warrior’ is one of the most recognisable Napoleonic sea songs. The song tells the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, known affectionately and sometimes mockingly by British sailors as ‘Boney’.
Unlike many maritime songs, it follows real historical events, tracing Napoleon's rise, his march to Moscow, his defeat at Waterloo and his final exile.
The Story Behind the Song
The song was probably written shortly after Waterloo in 1815 and certainly after Napoleon's death in 1821. Broadside versions circulated widely throughout Britain and became popular among sailors and working people.
The verses form a brief musical biography of Napoleon, mentioning campaigns in Russia, Prussia and Spain before ending with his defeat and imprisonment.
A Working Shanty
Unlike some songs in our repertoire, Boney Was a Warrior genuinely served as a working shanty. Sailors used it as a short-drag hauling song when a series of strong coordinated pulls was needed.
It became popular aboard both British and American sailing vessels throughout the nineteenth century.
A Song of History Rather Than Victory
What makes the song unusual is its often sympathetic treatment of Napoleon. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the threat of French invasion had long passed and many singers regarded Boney more as a romantic historical figure than a hated enemy.
The song therefore survives as both a maritime work song and a piece of folk history.
A Selsey Connection
Like many traditional sea songs, Boney Was a Warrior would have been familiar to generations of sailors operating in the English Channel. The Channel carried naval and merchant ships involved in the long struggle between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars.
When we sing it in Selsey, we are looking out over waters that often carried vessels whose crews would have known the events described in the song.
Is It a Shanty?
Yes. Unlike Spanish Ladies and some other maritime ballads, Boney Was a Warrior is widely recognised as a true work shanty. Its steady rhythm made it ideal for hauling ropes and coordinating heavy work aboard sailing ships.
“Boney was a warrior, away-ay-yah...”
Why We Still Sing It
- It tells the story of one of history's most famous military leaders.
- It is one of the classic Napoleonic sea shanties.
- It has a powerful rhythm that works brilliantly in performance.
- It connects maritime history with world history.
More than two centuries after Waterloo, Boney Was a Warrior continues to be sung by shanty crews throughout the world and remains a favourite with audiences.