The Nightingale Songtext
von Liam Clancy

As I was a-walkin′ and a-ramblin' 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 comfortin′ as they clung to each other
They went arm-in-arm down the road like sister and brother
They went arm-in-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
As softly cry the fair maid, "Hear the nightingale sing"


And they kissed so sweet and comfortin' as they clung to each other
They went arm-in-arm down the road like sister and brother
They went arm-in-arm down the road ′til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

Oh well, I′m off to India for seven long years
Drinkin' wine and strong whiskey instead of pale beer
And if ever I return again, it′ll be in the spring
And we'll both sit down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

And they kissed so sweet and comfortin′ as they clung to each other
They went arm-in-arm down the road like sister and brother
They went arm-in-arm down the road 'til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing

"Now," says the fair maid, "Will you marry me?"
"Oh no," says the soldier, "However can that be?
For I′ve me own a wife at home in me own country
And sure she is the fairest little thing that you ever did see"


And they kissed so sweet and comfortin' as they clung to each other
They went arm-in-arm down the road like sister and brother
They went arm-in-arm down the road 'til they came to a stream
And they both sat down together, love, to hear the nightingale sing