THE MANTLE SO GREEN
(Traditional)


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


*****


HER MANTLE SO GREEN
(Traditional variation)
Sinead O'Connor


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, "You Young man, you must be excused,
For I'll wed with no man, you must be refused;
To the green woods I will wander to shun all men's view,
For the lad that I love fell in famed Waterloo. "

"O, 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 so green. "

In raising 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.

But when he was dying I heard his last cry
'If you were here, Lovely Nancy, contented I'd die;'
Now Peace is proclaimed, and the truth I declare
Here is your love token, the gold ring I wear. "

O, Nancy, dear Nancy, 'tis I won your heart
In your father's garden that day we did part.
Now the wars are all over, no trouble is seen
And I'll wed with my true love in her mantle so green. "



(Contributed by Andy & Mogg - March 2004)