As I went a 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 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
From out of his knapsack he took a fine fiddle
And he played her such a merry tune that you ever did hear
He played her such merry tunes that the valleys did ring
And softly cried the fair maid 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
"Oh soldier, oh soldier, will you marry me?"
"Oh no", says the soldier, "hoewer can that be? "
For I have a wife at home in my own country
And she is the sweetest little thing 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
Now I'm off to India for seven long years
Drinking wines and strong whiskey instead of cool 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 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
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