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The Nightingale

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One morning, one morning, one morning in May,

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I spied a young couple a-making of hay,

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One was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear,

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And the other was a soldier and a bold grenadier.

Chorus

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And they kissed so sweet and comforting as they clung to each other,

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They went arm in arm along the road like sister and brother,

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They went arm in arm along the road, till they came to a stream,

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And they both sat down together love to hear the nightingale sing.

Chorus

Then with kisses and compliments he took her round the middle,

And out of his knapsack he drew a long fiddle,

And he played her such a pretty tune, as made the valleys to ring,

Hark, hark, says the fair maid, how the nightingales sing.

Chorus

Oh come says the soldier tis time to give o’er,

Oh no says the fair maid please play one tune more,

For I do like your fiddle and the touch of one string,

And to see the pretty flowers grow, and hear the nightingale sing.

Chorus

Then its come says this fair maid will you marry me

Oh no says the soldier that never can be,

For I have a wife at home in my own country,

And she’s the prettiest little thing that you ever did see.

Chorus

I’ll go down to London and stay there one year,

Drinking wine and strong whiskey instead of strong 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.

Chorus

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