By the margin of the ocean,
One pleasant evening in the month of June,
The charming-singing blackbird
His cheerful notes did sweetly tune.
Was there I spied a woman
All overpowered by grief and woe,
Conversing with young Bonaparte
Concerning the bonny bunch of roses-O

And then up and spoke the young Napoleon
As he took hold of his mother's hand,
Mother dear, be patient
Saying for soon it's I will take command.
I'll raise a terrible army
And through tremendous danger go.
And in spite of all of the universe
I'll conquer the bonny bunch of roses-O."

"And when the first you saw the Great Bonaparte,
You fell low on your bended knee
And 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's took five hundred thousand fighting men
And kings likewise for to join his throng.
He was so well provided for
Enough to sweep the whole world alone.
But when he came to Moscow
He was o'erpowered by driving snow
And Moscow was a-blazing,
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 it lies low,
And you may follow after,
So beware of the bonny bunch of roses-O."

June Tabor