As I rode out one fine summer's morning
Down by the gay banks of a clear pearling stream
There I spied a handsome fair maid making sad lamentations
Oh, I threw myself in ambush to hear her sad strains
Through the woods she marched along, caused the valleys to ring-o
The fine feathered songsters around her they flew
Saying, "The wars they are all over and peace it is restored again
But yet my Willie's not returning from the plains of Waterloo."
Well, I stepped up to this fair maid and said, "My fond creature
Oh, may I make so bold as to ask your true love's name?
For it's I've been in battle where the cannons around rattle
And by some strange fortune I might have known the same."
"Willie Smith me true love's name is, 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's the long campaign
Through Italy and Russia, through Germany and Prussia
Oh, he was me loyal comrade through France and through Spain."
"Until at 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 Boney on the plains of Waterloo."
"Now the eighteenth day of June, it is end of that battle
Leaving many's the bold hero to sigh and to mourn
Oh, the war drums they did beat and the cannons around did rattle
It was by a French soldier your Willie he was slain."
"And as I passed by there where he lay a-bleeding
Oh, I scarcely had time for to bid him adieu
In a faltering voice these words he was repeating
Fare the well, me lovely Annie, you are far from Waterloo."
Now when this lovely fair maid heard this sad acclamation
Oh, but her rosy cheeks turned pale and wan
And when I saw this fair maid making sad lamentations
Oh, I said, "Me lovely Annie, 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 Willie, from the plains of Waterloo."