NIGHTINGALE, THE
(traditional, arranged by Paul Weston)

as recorded by Jo Stafford
with Paul Weston & his Orchestra
October 31st 1947 Los Angeles


ONE mornin', one mornin',
One mornin' in May,
I met a fair couple
A-makin' their way.
And one was a lady,
A lady so fair,
The other a soldier,
A brave volunteer.

"Good mornin', good mornin',
Good mornin' to thee,
Oh where are you goin',
My pretty lady?"
"Oh, I am a-goin'
To the banks of the sea,
To see the waters a-glidin',
Hear the nightingale sing."

"Good soldier, good soldier,
Will you marry me?"
"Oh no, pretty lady,
That never can be!
I've a sweetheart in London,
As fair as can be.
Two girls in* the army's
Too many for me!"

"I'll go back to London
And stay there one year,
And often I'll think of you,
My little dear.
If e'er I return
'Twill be in the spring,
To see the waters a-glidin',
Hear the nightingale sing."


note - * "in" should be "and"?




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - April 2017)