As I went a walking one morning in May I met a young couple who fondly did stray And one was a young maid so sweet and so fair And the other was a soldier, 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 Til they came to a stream And they both sat down together, love To hear the nightingale sing
Well, of his knapsack he took a fine fiddle He played her such merry tunes that you ever did hear He played her such merry tunes that the valley did ring And softly cried the fair maid as the nightingale sings
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 Til 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 whiskies instead of strong beer 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 Til they came to a stream And they both sat down together, love To hear the nightingale sing
\"Well then\", says the fair maid, \"will you marry me?\" \"Oh no\", says the soldier, \"that never can be\" For I have a wife at home in my own country And she is the finest maiden 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 Til they came to a stream And they both sat down together, love To hear the nightingale sing