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Now, as I was a-walking one morning in May,
I saw a sweet couple together at play;
O, the one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear,
And the other was a soldier, a brave grenadier.
But they kissed so sweet and comforting as they pressed 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 spring,
Then they both sat down together just to hear the nightingale sing.
Then out of his knapsack a long fiddle he drew,
And he played her such merry tunes as she ever knew;
And he played her such merry tunes caused the valleys to ring.
Hark, hark, replied the fair maid, how the nightingales sing.
But they kissed so sweet and comforting as they pressed 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 spring,
Then they both sat down together just to hear the nightingale
sing.
O, come, said the soldier, 'tis time to give o'er.
O, no, said the maiden, please play one tune more;
I do like your playing and the touching of the long string,
And to see the pretty flowers grow, hear the nightingale sing.
But they kissed so sweet and comforting as they pressed 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 spring,
Then they both sat down together just to hear the nightingale
sing.
Now I'm going to India for seven long years,
Drinking wines and strong whiskey instead of strong beers;
But if I ever return again, it will be in the spring,
Then we'll both sit down together, love, and hear the nightingale sing.
But they kissed so sweet and comforting as they pressed 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 spring,
Then they both sat down together just to hear the nightingale
sing.
Now, said the fair maid, come, soldier, marry me.
O no, said the soldier, how ever can that be?
For I've a nice little wife at home in my own country,
And she is the smartest little woman that your eyes ever see.
But they kissed so sweet and comforting as they pressed 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 spring,
Then they both sat down together just to hear the nightingale
sing.
As I was a-walking and a-rambling one day,
I spied a young couple so fondly at play;
And one was a young maid so sweet and so fair,
And the other one 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 down the road like sister and brother;
They went arm in arm down the road till they came to a spring,
Then they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing.
From out of his knapsack he drew a fine fiddle,
And he played her such merry tunes that you ever did hear;
And he played her such merry tunes that the valley did ring,
When they both sat down together now to hear the nightingale sing.
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other,
They went arm in arm down the road like sister and brother;
They went arm in arm down the road till they came to a spring,
Then they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing.
And now, said the young maid, will you marry me?
Oh no, said the soldier, how could that be?
For I have a wife at home in the old country,
And she is the finest maid that you ever did see.
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other,
They went arm in arm down the road like sister and brother;
They went arm in arm down the road till they came to a spring,
Then they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing.
Now I'm off to India for seven long years,
Drinking wine and strong whiskey instead of pale beer;
And if I return again it'll be in the spring,
And we'll both sit down together now to hear the nightingale sing.
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other,
They went arm in arm down the road like sister and brother;
They went arm in arm down the road till they came to a spring,
Then they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing.
