As I was a-walkin' and a-ramblin' one day
I met a fair couple a-makin' their way
And one was a cowboy and a brave one was he
And the other was a lady and a fair one was she
The other was a lady and a fair one was she
"Oh, where are you goin', my pretty, fair maid?"
"Just down by the River, just down by the shade
Just down by the River, just down by the spring
To see the water gliding and the nightingale sing
To see the water gliding, hear the nightingale sing"
They had not been there but an hour or so
When out of his satchel came fiddle and bow
He played a tune that made the woods ring
She said, "Hark, hark, hear the nightingale sing"
She said, "Hark, hark, hear the nightingale sing"
He said, "Pretty lady, it's time to give o'er"
"Oh, no, my pretty cowboy, just play one tune more
I'd rather hear the fiddle or the touch of one string
Than to see the water gliding and the nightingale sing
Than to see the water gliding, hear the nightingale sing"
She said, "Pretty cowboy, will you marry me?"
"Oh, no, my pretty lady, that never can be
I've a wife in Arizona and a lady is she
One wife on a cow ranch is a-plenty for me
One wife on a cow ranch is a-plenty for me"
Well, I'm goin' out to Mexico, I'll stay about a year
I'll drink red wine, I'll drink lots of beer
If I ever return, it will be in the spring
To see the water gliding and the nightingale sing
To see the water gliding, hear the nightingale sing
