Digital Tradition Mirror

Plains of Waterloo

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Plains of Waterloo

As I roved out for my recreation
Down by Napoleon's plains where I carelessly did stray.
'Twas there I beheld a most beautiful damsel,
I stayed there in ambush to hear what she would say.

'Twas those sweet songs which caused the valleys for to ring
The gay gallant songsters around me they flew,
Saying, "The wars are all over and peace is proclaimed,
But my Willie is not returned from the Plains of Waterloo

"If this William Smith is the name of your true love,
'Twas long with him I spent many a campaign
Through Portugee together and then France where we marched
He was my loyal comrade as we marched through Spain.

"Till at length those French soldiers they did so surround us
Like brave English heroes we did them subdue;
We fought them for three days, till at last we were defeated
By brave Napoleon Bonaparte on the plains of Waterloo.

"On the eighteenth of June we ended our battle,
Caused many a gallant hero that day for to complain,
Where the drums they did beat and the cannons did rattle
'Twas by a French soldier your true love was slain.

"And as I passed by him I saw he was bleeding,
I scarcely had time for to bid him adieu
With faltering voice these words I heard him saying
'You are far away, lovely Sally, from the plains of Waterloo'."

When she heard him say those words, her eyes dey grew dim
     and her color was changing.
Her red rosy cheeks they soon grew pale and then
I was sad for to see her in that sad situation;
He boldly advanced and said, "I am the man.

'And here is the gold ring between us was broken;
In the midst of all danger reminds me of you"
'Twas soon she saw de token she flew to his arms
Saying "You're welcome home, Willie, from de plains of Waterloo

DT #459
Laws N32
From MacEdward Leach, Folk Ballads and Songs of the Lower Labrador Coast
Many ballads and songs still survive today dealing with Napoleon
and Waterloo. There are three different ballads with the title "Plains
of Waterloo" [ML]
SOF
oct96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!