Classic Poem

As I was a-walking one midsummer's morning
Down by the gay banks of a clear pleasant stream,
There I met a fair maid making sad lamentation,
So I drew myself in ambush to hear her sad refrain.
Through the woods she marched along, caused the valleys to ring-o,
And the fine feathered songsters around her they flew,
Saying, " The war it is now over and peace it is returned again,
Yet my William's not returning from the plains of Waterloo."

I stepped up to this fair maiden and said, " My fond creature,
Oh dare I make inquiry as to what's your true love's name?
For it's I have been in battle where the cannons loud do rattle
And by your description I might have known the same."
" Willie Smith's my true love's name, he's a hero of great fame,
And he's gone and he's left me in sorrow, it's true.
Now no-one shall me enjoy but my own darling boy
And yet he's not returning from the plains of Waterloo."

" If Willie Smith's your true love's name then he's a hero of great fame,
He and I have fought in battle through many's the long campaign
Through Italy and Russia, through Germany and Prussia.
He was my loyal comrade through France and through Spain
Till at length by the French arms then we were surrounded
And like heroes of old then we did them subdue.
We fought for three days till at length we did defeat you,
That bold Napoleon Boney on the plains of Waterloo.

" And on the sixteenth day of June it ended the battle,
Leaving many's the bold hero in sorrow to mourn,
Where the war drums they do beat and the cannons loud do rattle,
It was by a French soldier your William was slain.
And as I passed by near where he lay a-bleeding,
I skirted the field for to bid him adieu.
With a kind, faltering voice these words he kept repeating,
" Fare you well, my lovely Annie, you are far from Waterloo. " "

And when that this fair maid heard my sad acclamation,
Her two rosy cheeks they turned pale, cold and wan,
And lamenting this young man her sad lamentations.
But he cried, " My lovely Annie, I am your very own.
And here is the ring that between us was broken,
In the depths of all days, love, to remind me of you."
And she fell into his arms when she saw the token,
Saying, " You're welcome, lovely William, from the plains of Waterloo."