From Songs of Miramichi by Louise Manny and James Reginald Wilson, Brunswick Press, Fredericton, New Brunswick, 1968

Round Her Mantle So Green

As I rode out one evening, one evening in June,

For to view those green meadows and the flowers in bloom,

I espied a fair damsel, she appeared like some queen,

In her costly rich robes round her mantle so green.

As I stepped up beside her, and it’s this I did say,

We will join hands together, and it’s married we will be,

I will dress you in rich apparel, you’ll appear like some queen,

In your costly rich robes round your mantle so green.

O, it’s no, kind sir, she answered, you must be refused,

For it’s I’ll wed with no man, and you must be refused,

Through those green fields I will wander, I’ll shun all men’s view,

Since the boy that I loved died in famed Waterloo.

O, if you have a sweetheart, pray tell me his name,

For it’s I’ve been in battle, and I might know the same.

It was Willie O’Reilly, all plain to be seen,

It was neatly embroidered round her mantle so green.

I was your Willie’s comrade, I saw your love die,

And as I passed him dying, these words he did cry,

O, it’s Nancy, lovely Nancy, if you were standing by,

For to breathe you last on me, contented I’d die.

As I told her the story, in anguish she flew,

And the more that I told her, the paler she grew,

Through those green fields I will wander, and I’ll shun all men’s view,

Since the boy that I loved died in famed Waterloo.

O, it’s Nancy, lovely Nancy, it was I gained your heart,

Twas in your father’s garden where we had to part,

Twas in your father’s garden where we were unseen,

There I rolled you in my arms round your mantle so green.

Now this couple they got married, so I heard people say,

And great nobles attended on their wedding day,

Now the war it is over and the trouble it is o’er,

You are welcome to my arms, lovely Nancy, once more.

(last two words spoken)