“The Plains of Waterloo (IV)”
Description
A very confused song. The singer goes to fight the French at Waterloo. He thinks of the mountains of Britain, and his parting from his girl. He receives a letter. Now the girl recalls her lover's departure and curses the man who killed him
Notes
Sam Henry's text almost has to be a conflate song, combining two (or more) Waterloo ballads. Possibly they came together because both involved letters between lovers. But with only five stanzas of the combined piece, I haven't been able to identify the parts.
The best candidate seems to be Ford's song of the same name; they have similar opening lines, and Roud lumps the pieces. But the plots are different. - RBW
Historical references
- June 18, 1815 - Battle of Waterloo
References
- SHenry H608, pp. 87-88, "The Plains of Waterloo (IV)" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Moylan 192, "The Plains of Waterloo" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #1106
- BI, HHH608