Plains Of Waterloo - Shirley & Dolly Collins

As I was a-walking one midsummer’s morning

Down by the gay banks of a clear pearling stream

There I met a fair maid making sad lamentations

So I threw myself in ambush to hear her sad refrain

Through the woods she marched along, caused the valleys to ring-o

And the fine feathered songsters around her they flew

Saying, «The war it is now over and peace it is returned again

Yet my William’s not returning from the plains of Waterloo»

Oh, I stepped up to this fair maid and said, «My fond crature

Oh, dare I make nquire as to what’s your true love’s name?

For it’s I have been in battle where the cannons loud do rattle

And by your description I might have known the same»

«Willy Smith me true love’s name is, a hero of great fame

And he’s gone and he’s left me in sorrow, it’s true

Now no-one shall me enjoy but me own darling boy

And yet he’s not returning from the plains of Waterloo»

«If Willy Smith’s your true love’s name, then he’s a hero of great fame

He and I have fought in battle through many’s the long campaign

Through Italy and Russia, through Germany and Prussia

He was my loyal comrade through France and through Spain»

«Till at length by the French, oh then we were surrounded

And like heroes of old then we did them subdue

We fought for three days till at length we did defeat him

That bold Napoleon Boney on the plains of Waterloo»

«And on this sixteenth day of June, it is end of the battle

Leaving many’s the bold hero in sorrow to mourn

There the war drums they do beat and the cannons loud do rattle

It was by a French soldier your William was slain»

«And as I passed by oh to where he lay a-bleeding

I scarcely had time for to bid him adieu

With a faint, faltering voice these words he kept repeating:

Fare the well, me lovely Annie, you are far from Waterloo»

And when that this fair maid heard this sad acclamation

Her two rosy cheeks they turned pale into wan

And when that his young man saw her sad lamentation

He cried, «Me lovely Annie, oh I am your very one»

«And here is the ring that between us was broken

In the depth of all dangers, love, to remind me of you»

And when she saw the token, she fell into his arms, saying

«You're welcome, lovely William, from the plains of Waterloo»