One Morning in May

One morning, one morning, one morning in May,
I spied a young couple; they were making their way
And one was a lady 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 going out a walking by the banks of the sea,
Just to see the waters roll and hear the nightingale sing.

Now they had not been standing but a minute or so
When out of his knapsack a fiddle he drew
And the tune that he played made the valleys to ring
Oh hark, cried the maiden, hear the nightingales 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 with the touch of one string
Than to see the waters glide and hear the nightingales sing

Oh soldier, kind soldier, will you marry me?
Oh no, pretty maiden, that never shall be
I've a wife down 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'll be in the spring
To see the waters glide and hear the nightingales sing

Come dry up your tears, there is nothing to fear
I will roam these green valleys now for many's a long year
When the birds sang so sweet, this young man proved his deceit
Saying adieu, lovely fair maid, we will never more meet

With my snuff box and cane, this whole world I will range
Like Venus or Diana in search of her swain
When the moon shines so clear, I will mourn for my dear
Over mountains, clear fountains, where no one can hear

There's one thing that I know, and that before I go
I will never return for to hear her sad woe
There's another thing I know and that before I go
That the ranger and the stranger have many's the foe.