Curiosity led a young native of Erin
To view the green banks of the Rhine
Where an Empress he saw and the robes she was wearing
All over with diamonds did shine
No goddess in splendour was ever yet seen
For no equal this fair maid so mild and serene
In soft murmurs she cried, Oh my linnet so green
Sweet Boney, shall I ne’er see you more.

Neither Hannibal, Caesar, nor the great Alexander
Nor Hector the Trojan so bold
Was ever so daring, -- where’er you did wander
You cared not for heat or for cold
It grieves me the hardships that you did undergo
And the mountains that you traversed, all covered with snow
Till the ‘balance of power’ your courage laid low
Are you gone, shall I ne’er see you more.

The crowned heads of Europe, they were in great splendour
And swore they would make you submit
But the goddess of freedom soon made them surrender
And their standards were lowered to your wit
Old Frederick’s colours to France you did bring
His offspring found shelter under your wing
That year in Vienna you sweetly did sing
Sweet Boney, shall I ne’er see you more.

Great numbers of men were all eager to slay you
Their malice you viewed with a smile
Their gold throughout Europe was found to betray you
They joined with the Mamelukes on the Nile
Like ravenous vultures their vile passions did burn
The orphan they slew, and caused windows to mourn
But my linnet is gone and he ne’er shall return
Sweet Boney, shall I ne’er see you more.

I have ranged through the deserts of wild Abyssinia,
And could yet find no cure for my pain,
I would go and enquire at the Isle of St. Helena
But soft murmurs whisper, ‘Tis vain’.
Come tell me, ye spirits, come tell me in time,
What lands must I roam my green linnet to find,
Was he slain in Waterloo, in Spain or on the Rhine,
No, he lies on Saint Helena’s bleak shore.