One morning, one morning, one morning in May
I spied a young couple, a making their way
One was a lady so dainty and fair
And one was a soldier a brave volunteer

Good morning, good morning, good morning said he
Where be you going my pretty lady
Oh I'm going out walking because it is spring
Just to see the waters glide and hear the nightingale sing
Just to see the waters glide and hear the nightingale sing

They had not been standing but a minute or two
When out of his knapsack a fiddle he drew
And the tune that he played thru the valley did ring
Oh hark said the maiden hear the nightingale sing
Oh hark said the maiden hear the nightingale sing

Said the soldier to the lady its time to give o'er
Oh no pretty soldier play just one tune more
For I'd rather listen to the touch of your string
Than to see the waters glide and hear the nightingale sing
Than to see the waters glide and hear the nightingale sing

Said the lady to the soldier will you marry me
Oh no pretty lady that never can be
I've a wife in olde England and children twice three
One wife and the army is a plenty for me
One wife and the army is a plenty for me

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