as i went to walk in one morning in may
despite young couple so friendly did stray
one was a young maid so sweet and so fair
and the other was a soldier and an old grenadee
and they kissed so sweet and comforting
as they clung to each other
they walked arm arm along the road
like sister and brother
they walked arm and arm along the road
till they came to a stream
and they both sat down together love
to hear the nightingale sing
well out of his knapsack he took a fine fiddle
and he played her such merry tunes
that you ever did hear
and he played her such merry tunes
that the valleys did ring
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 walked arm and arm along the road
like sister and brother
they walked arm in arm along the road
till they came to a stream
and they both sat down together love
to hear the nightingale sing
oh soldier oh soldier oh will you marry me
oh no my sweet maiden this just cannot be
for i have my own wife at home
in my own country
and sure she is the sweetest little thing
that you ever did see
and they kiss so sweet and comforting
as they clung to each other
they walked arm and arm along the road
like sister and brother
they walked arm in arm along the road
till they came to a stream
and they both sat down together
love to hear the nightingale sing
well i'm off to india for seven long years
drinking wines and strong whiskey instead of cold beers
and if ever i return again it will 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 walked arm and arm along the road
like sister and brother
they walked arm and arm along the road
till they came to a stream
and they both sat down together
love to hear the nightingale sing
