As I went a -walkin'
and a -ramblin' one day
I spied a young couple
so fondly did stray
And one was a young maid
so sweet and so fair
And the other one was a soldier
and a brave grenadier
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
and loved 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
Softly cried the fair maid,
hear the nightingale sing
And they'd kiss so sweet and comforting
as they clung to each other
They went arm -in -arm down the road
like sister and brother
They went arm -in -arm down the road
till they came to a stream
And they both sat down together,
loved to hear the nightingale sing
Well, I'm off to India for
seven long years
Drinking wine and strong whiskey
instead of pale beers
And if ever I return again
it'll be in the spring
And we'll both sit down together
and love to hear the nightingale sing
And they kiss 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
and loved to hear the nightingale
sing.
Well now, sirs, the fair maid,
will you marry me?
Oh no, says the soldier,
how ever can that be
For I've me own wife at home
in me own country
And sure she is the fairest little thing
that you ever did see
And they kiss so sweet and comforting
as they drum 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
Loved to hear the nightingale sing