As I was a-roving One morning in spring,

voiceCollected by Max Hunter (H-10) For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors Sung by C. W. Ingenthron Walnut Shade, Missouri July 17, 1958 Reel 253-54, Item 9 Lovely Nancy (Mantle So Green) As I was a-roving One morning in spring, To view the sweet flowers And the meadow so green, I saw a young damsel, She appeared like a queen With her costly, fine robe, And her mantle so green. Says I, my pretty, fair maid, If you'll go with me, I'll join you in wedlock And married we'll be. I'll dress you in scarlet, As you appear like a queen With your costly, fine robe And your mantle so green. Oh, no, kind sir, You must be refused; For I'll wed with no man, You must be refused. Those green hills I've wandered For to shun all men's views, For the lad that I love Lies in Fenn Waterloo. Now, since you are not married, Pray tell me your love's name; For I've been in many a battle And I might have known the name. Draw near to my garments And there you'll behold His name and his surname In letters of gold. On reaching her garments There I did behold His name and his surname In letters of gold. "Young William O'Riley" It appeared in my view; He was my chief comrade At Fenn Waterloo. Lovely Nancy (Mantle So Green) (Cont'd) Reel 253-54, Item 9 We fought so victorious, The bullets did fly; On the plains of Nor-region Your true love does lie. We fought for three days Until the fourth afternoon; He received his death summons On the eighteenth of June. As he lay a-dying I heard his last cries, Draw near, lovely Nancy, Consenting I die. Now peace is provided, And the truth I'll declare, Here is your love's token On the ring that I wear. She stood in amazement And paler she grew; She flew from my arms With a heart full of woe, Saying, those green hills I've wandered For the lad that I love. Return, lovely Nancy; Your grief I'll remove. Lovely, Nancy, lovely Nancy, 'Twas I win your heart In your father's green gardens Where last we did part, Whore I held you in my arms, Beneath the shade tree, With your costly, fine robes And your mantle so green. Now this couple was married I've heard people say. There were noble entertainments On their wedding day. Now peace is provided, And the wars are all o'er. You're welcome, lovely Nancy, To my arms once more.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation