As I was a walking and a rambling on day,
I spied a young couple so fondly did stray.
And one was a young maide, so sweet and so fair,
And the other one was a soldier and a brave Grenadier.
CHORUS:
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other.
They went arm and arm down the road like sister and brother.
They went arm and arm down the road till they came to a stream,
and they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing.
Then 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 valleys did ring.
"Oh",softly cried the fair maide,"hear the Nightingale sing."
Cho.
"Oh",then said the fair maide,"won't you merry me?"
"Oh no", said the soldier, "however could that be?"
"For I've me own wife at home in the old country,"
"And she is the fairest little thing that you ever did see."
Cho.
"Now I'm off to India for several long years,"
"Drinkin' Wine and strong whiskey instead of pale beer."
"But if ever I return again, it will be in the spring,"
"And we'll both sit down together,Love, to hear the Nightingale sing.
I spied a young couple so fondly did stray.
And one was a young maide, so sweet and so fair,
And the other one was a soldier and a brave Grenadier.
CHORUS:
And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other.
They went arm and arm down the road like sister and brother.
They went arm and arm down the road till they came to a stream,
and they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing.
Then 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 valleys did ring.
"Oh",softly cried the fair maide,"hear the Nightingale sing."
Cho.
"Oh",then said the fair maide,"won't you merry me?"
"Oh no", said the soldier, "however could that be?"
"For I've me own wife at home in the old country,"
"And she is the fairest little thing that you ever did see."
Cho.
"Now I'm off to India for several long years,"
"Drinkin' Wine and strong whiskey instead of pale beer."
"But if ever I return again, it will be in the spring,"
"And we'll both sit down together,Love, to hear the Nightingale sing.