As I was out walking one morning in may I spied a young couple who fondly did stray One was a young maid so sweet and so fair and the other was a soldier and a bold grenadier
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other They went arm and arm along the road like sister and brother They went arm and arm along the road till they came to a stream And they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing
Out of his napsack he took a fine fiddle And he played such a merry tune that you ever did hear And he played such a merry tune that the valley did ring Oh soft cried the fair maid to hear the nightingale sing
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other They went arm and arm along the road like sister and brother They went arm and arm along the road till they came to a stream And they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing
Well I'm off to india for seven long years Drinking wine and whiskey instead of small beers And if I return again it will be in the spring And we'll both sit down together to hear the nightingale sing
'Well then' said the fair maid 'will you not marry me' 'Oh no' said the soldier 'how well can that be' For I have my own wife on the banks of the Dee And she's the fairest damsel that you ever did see
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other They went arm and arm along the road like sister and brother They went arm and arm along the road till they came to a stream And they both sat down together to hear the nightingale sing