As I was walking one morning in June.
To view the fair fields and meadows in bloom,
I espied a young female, she appeared like a queen,
With costly fine robes, and her mantle so green.
I said, "My pretty fair maid, if you will come with me,
We both join in wedlock, and married we will be;
I'll dress you in fine attire, and you'll appear like a queen,
With costly fine robes and your mantle so green.
She answered now, "Young man, you must be refused,
For I'll join with no other, and I must be excused;
To the green woods I will wander, to shun all men's view,
Since the boy that I love dearly was at famed Waterloo.
"Oh then, if you won't marry, tell me your love's name,
For I being in battle, I might know the same."
"Draw near to my garment and there will be seen
His name is embroidered on my mantle of green."
In the raising of her mantle, there I did behold,
His name and his surname were in letters of gold;
Young William O'Reilly appeared to my view,
He was my c***f comrade in famed Waterloo.
"And as he lay dying these words he did say
Here, here , lad do tell Nancy how contented I die
'Til peace is proclaimed, and the wars are all o're,
And you're welcome to my arms, lovely Nancy once more."
Oh Nancy, lovely Nancy,, 'tis you won your heart
In your father's garden the day we did part.
In your father's garden, the trees shady green
Where I rolled you in my arms in your mantle so green.
To view the fair fields and meadows in bloom,
I espied a young female, she appeared like a queen,
With costly fine robes, and her mantle so green.
I said, "My pretty fair maid, if you will come with me,
We both join in wedlock, and married we will be;
I'll dress you in fine attire, and you'll appear like a queen,
With costly fine robes and your mantle so green.
She answered now, "Young man, you must be refused,
For I'll join with no other, and I must be excused;
To the green woods I will wander, to shun all men's view,
Since the boy that I love dearly was at famed Waterloo.
"Oh then, if you won't marry, tell me your love's name,
For I being in battle, I might know the same."
"Draw near to my garment and there will be seen
His name is embroidered on my mantle of green."
In the raising of her mantle, there I did behold,
His name and his surname were in letters of gold;
Young William O'Reilly appeared to my view,
He was my c***f comrade in famed Waterloo.
"And as he lay dying these words he did say
Here, here , lad do tell Nancy how contented I die
'Til peace is proclaimed, and the wars are all o're,
And you're welcome to my arms, lovely Nancy once more."
Oh Nancy, lovely Nancy,, 'tis you won your heart
In your father's garden the day we did part.
In your father's garden, the trees shady green
Where I rolled you in my arms in your mantle so green.