The Nightingale

As I went walking one morning in May

I met a young couple so fondly did stray

One was a young maid so sweet and so fair

And the other was a soldier and a brave grenadier

And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other

They went arm-in-arm along the road like sister and brother

They went arm-in-arm along the road till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

From out of his knapsack he took a fine fiddle

And he played her such a merry tune that you ever did hear

Oh, he played her such a merry tune that the valley did ring

And cried the fair maid hear the nightingale sing.

And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other

They went arm-in-arm along the road like sister and brother

They went arm-in-arm along the road till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

O soldier, o soldier, will you marry me

O no said the soldier, how ever can that be.

For I have a wife in my own country

And she is the sweetest little thing that you ever did see.

And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other

They went arm-in-arm along the road like sister and brother

They went arm-in-arm along the road till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

Now I’m off to India for seven long years

Drinking wines and strong whiskey instead of cold beers

And if ever I return again ‘twill be in the spring

And we’ll both sit down together love to hear the nightingale sing.

And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other

They went arm-in-arm along the road like sister and brother

They went arm-in-arm along the road till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other

They went arm-in-arm along the road like sister and brother

They went arm-in-arm along the road till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing.