(Trad)
As I went a-walking one morning in June
To view the fair fields and the meadows in bloom
I spied a fair female, she appeared like a queen
In her costly fine robes and her mantle so green
I stepped up to her, put her in surprise
I own she did not know me, I being in disguise
Says I, Fairest creature, will you come with me
Oh we'll join in wedlock and married we'll be
She says, Oh no, young man, I must be excused
For I'll wed with no man, so you must be refused
To the green fields I will wander, to shun all men's view
Since the lad I love dearly is in famed Waterloo
Since you will not marry me, will you tell me your love's name
As I was in that battle I ought to know the same
Draw near to my garment, for it's there to be seen
His name is embroidered in my mantle of green
At the raising of her mantle it was there I beheld
His name and his surname in letters of gold
Young Willie O'Reilly appeared to my view
He was my chief comrade in famed Waterloo
Your love and I fought where the bullets did fly
And in the field of battle his body does lie
We fought for four days till the fifth afternoon
He received his death-summons on the eighteenth of June
When she heard the sad news she fell into despair
With the wringing her hands and the tearing her hair
To the green fields I will wander to shun all men's view
Since the lad I loved dearly lies in famed Waterloo
Oh Nancy, lovely Nancy, it was I won your heart
In your father's garden the day we did part
In your father's garden so plain to be seen
I rolled you in my arms in your mantle of green
And now this couple's married, I've heard people say
Great nobles attended their wedding day
He dressed her in fine silk, she appeared like a queen
In her costly fine robes and her mantle of green
(as sung by Kevin Mitchell)