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
"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
Cho
"Oh",then said the fair maide,"won't you merry me?"
"Oh no", said the soldier, "however can 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."