Dubliners - The Nightingale lyrics

As I went a walking one morning in May I met a young couple so far did we stray And 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 Out of his knapsack he took a fine fiddle He played her such merry tunes that you ever did hear He played her such merry tunes that the valley did ring And softly cried the fair maid as the nightingale sings 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, I'm off to India for seven long years Drinking wines and strong whiskies instead of strong beer And if ever I return again 'twill 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 "Well then", says the fair maid, "Will you marry me?" "Oh no", says the soldier, "however can that be?" For I've my own wife at home in my own country And she is the finest little maid 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