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