Her Mantle So Green
Sheet Music (and more information about this song)
As I went out walking one morning in June,
To view the fair fields and the valleys in bloom,
I spied a pretty fair maid, she appeared like a queen.
With her costly fine robes, and her mantle so green.
Says I: "My pretty fair maid, won't you come with me?
We'll both join in wedlock, and married we'll be.
I'll dress you in fine linen, you'll appear like a queen,
With your costly fine robes, and your mantle so green."
Says she: "Now my young man, you must be excused,
For I'll wed with no man, so you must be refused,
To the green woods I will wander and shun all men's view,
For the boy I love dearly lies in famed Waterloo."
"Well if you're not married, say your lover's name.
I fought in that battle, so I might know the same."
"Draw near to my garment, and there you will see,
His name is embroidered on my mantle so green."
In the ribbon of her mantle there I did behold,
His name and his surname in letters of gold,
Young William O'Reilly appeared in my view,
"He was my chief comrade back in famed Waterloo."
"And as he lay dying, I heard his last cry."
"If you were here lovely Nancy, I'd be willing to die."
As I told her this story, in anguish she flew,
And the more that I told her, the paler she grew.
So I smiled at my Nancy, "'Twas I broke your heart,
In your father's garden that day we did part,
And this is the truth, and the truth I declare,
Well here's your love token, a gold ring I wear."
Discography: Eleanor Shanley
Sinéad O'Connor
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