Plains of Waterloo

As I rode out one fine summer's morning Down by the gay banks of a clear pearling stream There I spied a handsome fair maid making sad lamentations Oh, I threw myself in ambush to hear her sad strains Through the woods she marched along, caused the valleys to ring-o The fine feathered songsters around her they flew Saying, "The wars they are all over and peace it is restored again But yet my Willie's not returning from the plains of Waterloo." Well, I stepped up to this fair maid and said, "My fond creature Oh, may I make so bold as to ask your true love's name? For it's I've been in battle where the cannons around rattle And by some strange fortune I might have known the same." "Willie Smith me true love's name is, hero of great fame He's gone and he's left me in sorrow, it's true No one shall me enjoy but me own darling boy But yet he's not returning from the plains of Waterloo." "Well, if Willie Smith's your true Love's name, he's a hero of great fame He and I have been in battle through many's the long campaign Through Italy and Russia, through Germany and Prussia Oh, he was me loyal comrade through France and through Spain." "Until at length by the French we were surrounded Like the heroes of old we did them subdue We did fight for three days until we did defeat him That brave Napoleon Boney on the plains of Waterloo." "Now the eighteenth day of June, it is end of that battle Leaving many's the bold hero to sigh and to mourn Oh, the war drums they did beat and the cannons around did rattle It was by a French soldier your Willie he was slain." "And as I passed by there where he lay a-bleeding Oh, I scarcely had time for to bid him adieu In a faltering voice these words he was repeating Fare the well, me lovely Annie, you are far from Waterloo." Now when this lovely fair maid heard this sad acclamation Oh, but her rosy cheeks turned pale and wan And when I saw this fair maid making sad lamentations Oh, I said, "Me lovely Annie, I am that very one." "And here is the ring that was broken between us In the midst of all danger, love, to remind me of you." And when she saw the token, she fell into me arms crying "You're welcome, dearest Willie, from the plains of Waterloo."