Digital Tradition Mirror

Battle of the Windmill

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Battle of the Windmill

On Tuesday morning we marched out
In command of Colonel Fraser
With swords and bay'nets of polished steel
As keen as any razor
Unto the Windmill Plains we went
We gave them three loud cheers
To let them know, that day below
We're the Prescott Volunteers

Oh, we're the boys that feared no noise
When the cannons loud did roar;
We cut the rebels left and right
When they landed on our shore.
Brave MacDonall nobly led
His men into the field;
They did not flinch, no, not an inch,
Till the rebels had to yield.

He swung his sword right round his head
Saying, 'Glengarrys, follow me,
We'll gain the day without delay,
And that you'll plainly see!'
The rebels now remain at home,
We wish that they would come,
We'd cut them up both day and night
By command of Colonel Young,

If e'er they dare return again
They'll see what we can do;
We'll show them British play, my boys,
As we did at Waterloo,
Under Captain Jessup we will fight,
Let him go where be will;
With powder and ball they'll surely fall
As they did at the Windmill,

If I were like great Virgil bright,
I would employ my quill:
I would write both day and night
Concerning the Windmill,
Lest to intrude I will conclude
And finish off my song:
We'll pay a visit to Ogdensburg,
And that before it's long.

From Folke, Penguin Book of Canada   Folk Songs
rebellion in 1837
tune: Girl I Left Behind Me
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!