The Nightingale

The Nightingale

Gather round lads!

As I was out 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 bold Grenadier

And they kiss, so sweet and comforting

as they clung to each other

Sing along boys!

They went arm and arm along the road

like sister and brother

They went arm and arm along the road

till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together

to hear the nightingale sing

Out of his knapsack

he took a fine fiddle

and he played such a merry tone

that you ever did hear

and he played such a merry tone

that the valley did ring

Oh soft cried the fair maid

to hear the nightingale sing

And they kiss, so sweet and comforting

as they clung to each other

They went arm and arm along the road

like sister and brother

They went arm and arm along the road

till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together

to hear the nightingale sing

Well I'm off, to India

for seven long years

Drinkin' wine and whiskey

instead of small beers

And if I return again

it will be in the spring

And we'll both sit down together

to hear the nightingale sing

Well then said the fair maid

will ya not marry me?

Oh no, said the soldier

how well can that be?

For I have my own wife

on the banks of the deep

And she's the fairest damsel that you ever did see

And they kiss, so sweet and comforting

as they clung to each other

They went arm and arm along the road

like sister and brother

They went arm and arm along the road

till they came to a stream

And they both sat down together

to hear the nightingale sing