This is my transcription of what Frank Harte sings on the Dan Milner CD 'Irish songs from Old New England'. The song is obviously very much like Eighteenth day of June in the DT but has several more verses and has an Irish angle that the song in the DT doesn't have. I'm sure my transcription has still some mistakes but I am confident none of them is a major mistake. Parentheses indicate where I'm not sure.

Wolfgang


NAPOLEON'S DEFEAT

Our ancient songs and story were of greater men, they say,
But we in future glory may join as well as they.
Our noble fathers' valiant sons have conquered many's a foe.
(Will loud) and fame their names proclaim who fought at Waterloo.

It was on the eighteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and fifteen.
With horse and foot we did advance most glorious to be seen.
Both horse and foot we did advance and the bugles loud they blew.
We showed the French at Waterloo what Ireland's sons could do.

Our cavalry they did advance with bold and valiant hearts.
Our infantry and artillery did nobly play their parts.
The small arms they did rattle with our great guns to the fore,
All on the plains of Waterloo where the murdering cannons roar.

Here's to Sir William Posonby* I am sorry for to say.
In leading his Enniskillen dragoons he met his fate that day.
He fell at the head of his brigade, which grieves my heart full sore.
I saw him die as we passed by with many thousands more.

And Napoleon like a Bantam cock sat a-mounted on a bar.
He much did wish to represent great Mars the god of war.
On a high platform there he did stand; was loudly that he crew,
But he drooped his wings and turned his tail and fled from Waterloo.

When Napoleon found the battle lost, he cried, "I am undone".
He wrung his hands and tore his hair, saying, "Alas, my darling son,
('Tis straight) to Paris I will go and as king I will crown you
Before they hear of my defeat on the plains of Waterloo."

Now Boney has gone from the field of war where he will fight no more.
He will much lament his lonesome lot upon St. Helena's shore.
And when he thinks of those great men who wrought (brought?) his final doom,
He will think long on Ireland's sons, Enniskillen's brave dragoons.


* Major- General Sir William Ponsonby (1772-1815) was killed at the battle of Waterloo whilst leading a brigade of heavy cavalry. Short online biography