Subject: Plains Of Waterloo From: Matt Robson Date: 06 Apr 97 - 06:41 AM Yet another song about the Battle of Waterloo. Anyone got the full lyrics to this version which begins: On the eighteenth day of June me boys Eighteen hundred and fifteen Both horse and foot they did advance So glorious to be seen Both horse and foot they did advance And the bugle horn did blow And those sons of France we made them dance On the Plains of Waterloo. Our cavalry sadvanced...... Napoleon like a fighting cock...
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Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: dick greenhaus Date: 06 Apr 97 - 12:34 PM It's in the database. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Date: 12 Apr 97 - 05:13 AM This version isn't in the database |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Dave Smithers Date: 12 Apr 97 - 05:21 AM I cant find this version in the database either. There are lots of versions but none with the words Matt Robson was looking for. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Wolfgang Date: 19 Aug 99 - 07:33 AM I refresh that very old request for I'd love to see the lyrics too. None of the about five songs in the DT you'll find searching for [plains of Waterloo] is even close. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: GeorgeH Date: 19 Aug 99 - 08:35 AM Nor is the rather fine Les Barker parody "The Trains from Waterloo" in the database (WHAT a philistine I am!!). I really must find some time to do a bit of typing . . G. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Allan C. Date: 19 Aug 99 - 08:41 AM I poked around a bit and found two recordings of this song. Haven't heard them yet but I will pass them on as possible sources: There is a recording of "Plains of Waterloo" by Rusby and Roberts which, if I read the note properly, is on a CD called, Rusby and Roberts and another by Martin Simpson on a CD called, Cool and Unusual. Hope this helps. Allan C. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Wolfgang Date: 19 Aug 99 - 09:31 AM George, not in the DT yet, but it has been posted last year in the Forum: Trains of Waterloo ^^ Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: GeorgeH Date: 19 Aug 99 - 01:09 PM Alan C: The Cool & Unusual album is all instrumental . . and the "Two Kates", fine though it is, is (I believe; I'll check tonight) of the version in the DT rather than the one currently being sought. G. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Allan C. Date: 19 Aug 99 - 01:12 PM Drat! |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: wildlone Date: 19 Aug 99 - 01:45 PM Try Voices Fellside fecd87.There is a version by the Wilsons.This is an exellent cd and as the name implys is recorded only using the human voice apart from the last track which uses multi tracking.i hope this helps. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE 18TH DAY OF JUNE (Wilson Family) From: bigJ Date: 19 Aug 99 - 06:13 PM With compliments:-
THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF JUNE (PLAINS OF WATERLOO)
On the 18th day of June, me boys, eighteen hundred and fifteen,
Our cavalry advanced with true and valiant heart
The French dogs made a stout attack in front of Mount Saint John,
Napoleon, like a bantam cock, sat mounted on a bar (?)
The valiant Duke of Brunswick fell in the field that day, (Repeat first verse) |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Wolfgang Date: 20 Aug 99 - 03:40 AM bigJ, that's it! Thanks a lot. If Matt Robson is still among us (well, this was his last post), he won't believe it. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: GeorgeH Date: 20 Aug 99 - 09:50 AM Well, the version on the "Two Kates" CD isn't the one which was being looked for, and isn't any of those on the database either (though I suspect if I'd transcribed all of the song rather than just V1 I would find it to be a variant of one of them . . ). This one opens . . Come all you loyal lovers I pray you to draw near To lie and write (?) a verse or two I mean to let you hear In praises of a worthy Who's honest, fair and true Who fought through Spain and Portugal And fell at Waterloo . . . (now I ask myself whether this version could have been John Tamsed . . ) G. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: bigJ Date: 20 Aug 99 - 03:16 PM George, I'm surprised that John Mouldon hasn't been here before me, but a version similar to Kate Rusby's is on page 87 of Sam Henry's 'Songs of the People' (Huntinton/Herrmann/Mouldon)where it is followed by a version of the Eighteenth of June song that I give in the thread above. |
Subject: Lyr Add: PLAINS OF WATERLOO From: Susanne (skw) Date: 13 Dec 99 - 06:36 PM Just to complicate this thread even further, I taped the following song on Waterloo from the radio ages ago. It is sung by a man in a light tenor voice, very quiet and straightforward, but I have no idea who he is. It must have been in the late 70s or early 80s as I'm quite certain I got it from Wally Whyton's 'Folk Review' programme on BBC, probably from a (then) new album. I'd love to know who sings it and which album it is from. Do the words jog anyone's memory?
One fine summer's morning as I went a-walking
I approached this young maiden and I said, My fond creature
If Willie Reilly's your love's name then he's a hero of great fame
On the fourteenth of June it be an end in the battle
When this maiden she heard all this sad declaration
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Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Slider Date: 16 Dec 99 - 11:20 PM Susanne, thanks for posting those lyrics. Funny how things have a way of turning up. I've thought about making an inquiry regarding this song. I not sure if this is the singer you have in mind, but I do have this song on a tape that a friend gave me years ago of Peter Rowan stuff. Sorry I can't tell you the name of the album as the tape is labled simply "Peter Rowan". Hope this is some help. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: NSC Date: 17 Dec 99 - 11:02 AM wildlone. I think that track is not multi tracked but uses a number of people. All the music sounding bits are made by the human voice too. A wonderful CD imaginatively put together. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Susanne (skw) Date: 17 Dec 99 - 05:31 PM Thanks, Slider, but no, it can't be Peter Rowan. There is no trace of an American accent. It sounds VERY English, actually! Still, I'll keep hoping. - Susanne |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Liam's Brother Date: 17 Dec 99 - 07:17 PM Unless I'm mistaken, the ballad supplied by Suzanne is known in tradition only in Canada. If it was sung elsewhere, I would love to hear. The great Ontario singer, O.J. Abbott, is the one who really "gave" us the ballad via folklorist Edith Fowke who collected and published his songs. There is every indication that it comes from an Irish or British broadside however, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever come up with an original (broadside) sheet. Again, I would be delighted to learn otherwise. As I wrote in another Mudcat thread, in the 1970's, every unaccompanied singer who wanted to be taken seriously sang this song. Frank Harte and Royston Wood sang it at our folk club in NYC and there were more. Amazingly, hardly anyone sings it today and when I came out with it at a festival in Ireland a couple of years ago I could hear people whispering, "Oh, THAT one!" in happy and nostalgia-touched voices. In short, it could have been any good singer of the '70s, Suzanne. Was it Peter Bellamy?
All the best,
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Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: john c Date: 18 Dec 99 - 02:47 PM There is a great version of P.o.W with the the lyrics as given by Suzanne on the record Love,Death and the Lady by Shirley and Dolly Collins. Actually, the whole of that record is great and cant be recommended highly enough. J. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 18 Dec 99 - 04:07 PM I'd certainly second john c's recommendation of Love, Death And The Lady. There are some other Waterloo songs, including the "fighting cock" one, at the Bodleian Broadside site, here -a search for Waterloo will find them. Malcolm |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Graham Pirt Date: 18 Dec 99 - 06:17 PM I have a wonderful rendition of a variant of this song by Willie Scott the border shepherd who died a few years ago. The tape was recorded in The Plough at Whitby Folk Week, in the 80's |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Liam's Brother Date: 18 Dec 99 - 06:30 PM Hi Graham! I'm curious which Plains of Waterloo Willie Scott sang. As I' sure you know there are a few totally distinct songs with the same title. Can you give us a few verses please. Thanks.
All the best, |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 18 Dec 99 - 06:50 PM Susanne's "Plains of Waterloo" (with a few minor variations - sixteenth of June instead of 14th, for example) is included in an excellent book called "The Cruel Wars - 100 Soldiers' Songs from Agincourt to Ulster" compiled by Karl Dallas (also known at one time as Fred Dallas, and writer of a lot of good songs, including Thew Family of Man), which was published by Wolfe Publishing in London in 1971 or so.
And he credits it to O.J.Abbott of Ottowa (sic) - and recommends the Shirley Collins recording. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Susanne (skw) Date: 18 Dec 99 - 07:04 PM It's wonderful the way you're all trying to help, and I certainly know more now than I did before, though I've seen Karl Dallas' book. However, the singer is neither Shirley Collins (whose voice - dare I say it? - I'm rather allergic to) nor Peter Bellamy who'd be unmistakable. I think I'll try to follow up Dan's Canada hint. Thanks to all of you. - Susanne |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 18 Dec 99 - 09:01 PM Tom Gilfellon (tenor voice) recorded the song with the High Level Ranters in the early '70s, so that one's probably worth bearing in mind. Unfortunately I can't find any reference to which record it was on... Malcolm |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 18 Dec 99 - 09:36 PM Turns out that the version I was thinking of was on High Level, (Leader Records, probably 1971), and therefore now sitting un-re-issued in the vaults of Celtic Records (on whom we spit). A great pity, because it was a fine record, which really should be allowed out once again into the world! Malcolm |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Susanne (skw) Date: 19 Dec 99 - 06:52 PM Malcolm, I have another album by the HLR, and I'll check out the voice. Also, I've seen High Level (or was it High Ground?) around in second-hand shops. Thanks! - Susanne |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Graham Pirt Date: 19 Dec 99 - 07:20 PM Dan Willie Scott's version began:
Was a lady was a-walkin alang the banks o Clyde Great song with an even better tune - if you're interested I'll get the rest of the words and send you a file of the tune. Graham |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: richardw Date: 24 Jan 00 - 11:32 PM Liam's brother: re "Plains of Waterloo". I am interested in your comments about this (these) song[s]. I am doing some research on this and came across the old and not so old thread. I am trying of find a tune for a song that is likely called Plains of Waterloo that was written down, ie collected, remembered, recorded, whatever, in B.C. in May of 1877. What was the life span of Abbott? The first verse, which sort of fits the "Waterloo" midi in the mudcat is: On the 16th day of June my boys in Flanders where we lay, Our Bugels did alarm us Belgiums just at the break of day, Our Royal British Brunswickers and Hanovarians to Brussels left that morning for the Plains of Waterloo. In the mudcat the "plains of Waterloo II has the same repeating line, but the words are not the same. Any ides from anyone, and what tune might it fit to. Richard Wright
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Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Wolfgang Date: 25 Jan 00 - 06:14 AM Susanne, following one lead from DanMilner, here's your man: Frank Harte singing 'Plains of Waterloo' on his Mulligan Records LP 'And listen to my song'. The lyrics are as identical as lyrics in a transcription can be expected to be. The only time I've seen this song in print is in 'The Penguin Book of Canadian Folksongs', a slightly different version starting 'As I roved out on a fine summer's morning'.
Notes from Frank Harte:
Notes from 'The Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs' (compiled by E. Fowke): Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: AndyG Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:01 AM It's strange how memory (doesn't) work ! Both the original and most recent requests suddenly brought stuff to mind. This is on the tip of my tongue but I just can't retrieve it. However the chorus, if I'm on the right track goes along the lines of:
Chorus:
It's not in the database, it's a big rousing chorus.
AndyG |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: GUEST,aldus Date: 25 Jan 00 - 11:31 AM Susanne; I think the version you are looking for is by pentagle..at least the lyrics are very close to a version they did of it. I forget which album it was on. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Liam's Brother Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:41 PM TO: Robert Wright Mr. Abbott died, I believe, in 1962 at the age of 90. His ballad is not the one you're researching. The standard reference for broadsides ballads of British Isles origin collected in North America is American Balladry from British Broadsides by G. Malcolm Laws, Jr. (1957). In that reference, Laws gives 3 distinct ballads under the title of "The Plains of Waterloo." He codes the ballad you cite above as "J3" - "The Plains of Waterloo II." Songs of the Newfoundland Outports, by Kenneth Peacock was a book published in 1965 by the National Museum of Canada (note: after the Laws reference). In volume 3, page 1016, there is "The Plains of Waterloo (II)." The first verse of this ballad is corrupted but this is your song.
"On the fourteenth day of June, me boys, on Flanders where we lay, Songs of the Newfoundland Outports has a tune for this ballad. If you live in Canada, this should be available through the library. Additionally, this song was collected in the UK by Ford, Logan, Christie, Grieg, Kidson and others. I hope this is helpful.
All the best, |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Susanne (skw) Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:30 PM Wolfgang and aldus, thanks for your suggestions. I'll check my tape and let you know. Actually, I think Frank Harte is more likely, for I have a recording by Pentangle which doesn't sound anything like the style. As I've never consciously heard Frank Harte sing (now stop throwing those foul eggs, please!), it's a bit difficult, but many thanks, anyway. - Susanne |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Wolfgang Date: 26 Jan 00 - 08:52 AM AndyG, here are two verses from M. Pollard, Ballads and Broadsides, of a song titled (how else?) Plains of Waterloo:
Come all courageous Britons brave, of honour and renown,
... Well, that's the first and the before last verse of a song too long to type today but I wouldn't mind the work if it's the right song. It sounds like it could be the song you had in mind. I have never heard it and my source gives no tune. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Susanne (skw) Date: 31 Jan 00 - 05:28 PM Wolfgang, after listening to my tape again I'm quite convinced the singer isn't Frank Harte. It's a youngish voice, very smooth, and there is accompaniment of a rather popsy quality. I don't think Frank Harte would like to be associated with this version. The mystery continues ... Watch this space! - Susanne |
Subject: Lyr Add: LONELY WATERLOO From: lamarca Date: 31 Jan 00 - 11:13 PM Daithi Sproule recorded a lovely variant of this ballad on his solo album, Heart Made of Glass. Titled Lonely Waterloo, he found the lyrics in a book and set it to a tune of his own composition. I've since found the song in Peacock's Songs of the Newfoundland Outports, and sing those lyrics (or at least my errant memory's approximation of them) to Daithi's tune: LONELY WATERLOO
A maiden fair was walking down by the riverside,
"What were the clothes your Willy wore?" one soldier there replied,
"If that's the clothes your Willy wore, I saw his dying day,
"Oh, Willy, lovely Willy," and she could say no more,
I'd alight all on his bosom, all sorrows to remove, I'm afraid I don't know ABC or other tune formats, else I'd give the tune, too. I really love this song. |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: The_one_and_only_Dai Date: 02 Jun 00 - 04:02 AM The immensely talented Five Guys Not Called Matt (of whom I'm one) have recorded this. For your delectation, you can find the recording here (http://website.lineone.net/~andy_powell/five.htm) |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: richardw Date: 02 Jun 00 - 01:58 PM Which version is "This", please richard |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: The_one_and_only_Dai Date: 05 Jun 00 - 06:15 AM Oops, it's actually the one identified by Liam's Brother above as the target of this thread. |
Subject: Lyr Add: PLAINS OF WATERLOO From: GUEST,Jim I Date: 05 Jun 00 - 08:12 PM What an incredible thread. I've learnt more about 'Waterloo' songs in 20 minutes than I have in 20 years. The version I learnt about 1968 seems to hover between many of the above. I have no idea where I got it from. Jim PLAINS OF WATERLOO
1. On the fourteenth day of June, me boys
CHORUS: Ten thousand prisoners we made
2. For full four hours or longer
3. The bloody battle then began
4. Here's a health to George, our royal king |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: AndyG Date: 06 Jun 00 - 04:49 AM Thank you Jim!
That's the one I didn't learn 20 years ago :)
AndyG |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: richardw Date: 26 Jan 01 - 11:14 AM Jim, Guest; That's the version I have been looking for. I know you say you don't know where you got it, but do you know where I might find the tune? I have the same version, or very similar, written in long hand in 1877. Thanks Richard Wright |
Subject: Lyr Add: PLAINS OF WATERLOO (John Renbourn Group) From: John P Date: 27 Jan 01 - 08:22 AM I'm surprised no one has mentioned the version sung by Jacqui McShee on the John Renbourn Group's "Enchanted Garden" album. I think it's the only time I've bothered to learn someone else's guitar part for a song. John Peekstok THE PLAINS OF WATERLOO
As I rode out one bright summer's morning,
Well I stepped up to this fair maid and said, "My young creature,
If Willie Smith's your true love's name, he's a hero of great fame,
On the eighteenth day of June was the end of the battle,
Now when this fair maid heard his sad acclamation, |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: richardw Date: 27 Jan 01 - 11:19 AM John; I can't hear the tune of your positng but the lyrics are the same as the version June Tabor sings. She does a good job of it, of course. With all the ornamentation she adds it woudl be a hard version to duplicate. Richard Wright |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: richardw Date: 02 Nov 01 - 11:57 AM I've finally got a chance to get back to this song; Dan: the Laws J3 that you quote is does seem to be the one I'm looking for, but, the Plains of Waterloo II in the Digitrad is not the same, though it says it is Laws J3. Hmm. Dai: I tried your link to find out about your CD but it goes to a search engine. Is there a new link? The one I'm looking for has the chorus, I now realize that Andy G. mentions. I thought it was a partial verse tagged on the end. The one Jim mentions is the one that I have in manuscript form from 1877. Anyone know of documentation of this or a CD? Richard Wright |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: Wolfgang Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:17 PM Richard, look at my post from 26 Jan 00 that was in response to Andy's verse/chorus. Is that the song you mean? Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Plains Of Waterloo From: richardw Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:31 PM Wolfgang; Yes it would appear a variation of the same. Your last verse reads like this in my version:
When Caledone took up her drone and loud her chanters blew
Ten thousand prisoners we took with Impereagles too The last two lines are written separately so may be the chorus referred to. Caledone would seem to refer to the Highlanders, Caledonians. However, it seems your version is close. What are the references for it in the text you have? I am trying to document songs sung in the BC Gold Rush and this and the British Grenadiers are the only "traditional" songs I have found, so it may be of some significance. Richard |
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