Mantle of Green - Steeleye Span

As I was a-walking one morning in June

To view the gay fields and the meadows in bloom

I spied a young female, she appeared like some queen

With her costly fine robes round her mantle of green

He said, «Lovely fair maid, if you will agree

Then we’ll join in wedlock and married we’ll be

I’ll dress you in riches, you’ll appear like some queen

With your costly fine robes round your mantle of green»

She quickly made answer, «May you be excused

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

To the greenwoods I’ll wander and shun all men too

For the lad that I love fell at famed Waterloo»

«If you will not marry, tell me your love’s name

For I’ve been a soldier, and might know the same»

«Draw near to my garment and soon you will see

His name I’ve embroidered on my mantle of green»

Enrising of her mantle, it’s there I behold

His name and his surname in letters of gold

Young William O’Reilly it appeared to my view

I cried, «He was my comrade at famed Waterloo»

Now when that she heard it, the paler she grew

She fell in his arms with her heart full of woe

«Your heart I have wounded, the truth I declare

Here is your love’s token, the gold ring I do wear»

«In your father’s garden, beneath a green tree

We pledged our true love and long we’d agree»

This couple got married, I’ve heard people say

She wore a mantle of green on their wedding day