One morning, one morning, one morning in May
I spied a young couple, they were making their way
One was a maiden so bright and so fair
And the other was a soldier and a brave volunteer

Good morning, good morning, good morning said he
And where are you going my pretty lady
I'm goig out a walkin on the banks of the sea
Just to see the waters gliding hear the nightingale sing

Now they had not been standing but a minute or two
And out of his knapsack a fiddle he drew
And the tune that he played made the valleys all ring
Oh hark cried the maiden hear the nightingale sing

Oh maiden fair maiden tis time to give o'er
Oh no kind soldier please play one tune more
For I'd rather hear your fiddle at the touch of one string
Than to see the waters gliding hear the nightingale sing

Oh soldier kind soldier will you marry me
Oh no pretty maiden that never shall be
I've a wife in London and children twice three
Two wives and the army's too many for me

Well I'll go back to London and I'll stay there for a year
It's often that I'll think of you my little dear
And if ever I return it will be in the spring
Just to see the waters gliding hear the nightingale sing
To see the waters gliding hear the nightingale sing