American Old Time Song Lyrics: 18 The Boyne Water

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 18

THE BOYNE WATER

July the first, of a morning clear, one thousand six hundred and ninety.
King William did his men prepare, of thousands he had thirty;
To fight King James and all his foes, encamped near the Boyne Water,
He little feared, though two to one, their multitudes to scatter.
King William called his officers, saying, "Gentlemen, mind your station,
And let your valor here be shown, before this Irish nation;
My brazen walls let no man break, and your subtle foes you'll scatter,
Be sure you show them good English play, as you go over the water."

Both foot and horse they marched on, intending them to batter,
But the brave Duke Schomberg he was shot as he crossed over the water;
When that King William he observ'd the brave Duke Schomberg falling,
he rein'd his horse, with a heavy heart, on the Enuiskilleners, calling:
' What will you do for me, brave Trays, see yonder men retreating,
Our enemies encouraged are-and .English drums are beating;"
He says, "My boys, feel no dismay at the losing of one commander,
For God shall be our King this day, And I'll be general under."

Within four yards of our fore-front, before a shot was fired,
A sudden snuff they got that day, which little they desired;
For horse and man fell to the ground, and some hung in their saddles.
Others turned up their forked ends, which we call coup de ladle.

Prince Eugene's regiment was the next, on our right hand advanced,
Into a field of standing wheat, where Irish horses pranced-
But the brandy ran so in their heads, their senses all did scatter,
They little thought to leave their bones that day at the Boyne Water.