As I rode out one fine
summer's morning
Down by the gerbanks of
a clear purling stream
Their eyes spied a handsome fair maid
making sad lamentations
Oh, I threw myself in ambush to
hear her sad strains
Through the woods she marched alone,
caused the valleys to wring
Oh, the fine feathered songsters
around her they flew
Sayin' the wars they are all over and
peace it is restored again
But yet my will is not returnin'
from the plains of
Waterloo
Well I stepped up to this fair maiden
said my fond creature
Oh, may I make so bold as to ask
you true love's name?
For it's I who've been in battle where
the cannons around do rattle
And by some strange fortune I
might have known the same
Well, he smiths me true love's name,
he's 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 a long campaign
Through
Italy and
Russia, through
Germany and
Prussia
Always was my loyal comrade
through
France and through
Spain
Until over the 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, bony on the plains of
Waterloo
Now the 18th day of
June it is end at the battle
Leaving many's no bolt here
o 'er to sigh and to mourn
All the war drums they did beat and
the cannons around did rattle
It was by a
French soldier your will he was slain
And as I passed by,
oh, where he lay bleeding,
Oh, I scarcely had time
for to bid him adieu.
In a faltering voice these words
he was repeating,
Fare thee well, my lovely
Annie,
He was far from
Waterloo
Now when this lovely fair maid heard this
odd acclamation
Oh, her two rosy cheeks
turned pale into one
And when I saw this fair maid
making sad lamentations
Oh, I said, me lovely honey,
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, and worthy
From the plains of
Waterloo