As I went a-walking and a-rambling 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 'til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, 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
"Oh", softly cried the fair maid, "hear the Nightingale sing."

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 'til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

"When I'm off to India for seven long years"
"Drinking wine and strong whiskey instead of pale beer"
"And if ever I return again, it will be in the spring"
"And we'll both sit down together, love, to hear the Nightingale sing

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 'til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

"Oh", then said the fair maid, "will you merry me?"
"Oh no", said the soldier, "however can that be?"
"For I've me own wife at home in the old country
And she is the fairest little thing that you ever did see"

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 'til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing