As I was a walkin' and a rovin' one day
I spied a fair couple just making their way
And the other was a lady and a fair one was she
The other he was a cowboy, and a brave one was he
The other he was a cowboy, and a brave one was he

Now where are you going, my pretty, young maid?
Down by the river, down by the shade
Down by the river, down by the spring
To see the waters glide and hear the nightingale sing
To see the waters glide and hear the nightingale sing

Well they had not been there but an hour or so
When out of his satchel come a fiddle and bow
And the tune that he played seemed to make the woods ring
Hark Hark, said the lady, hear the nightingale sing
Hark Hark, said the lady, hear the nightingale sing

And now, my said pretty lady it's time to give o'er
O' no handsome cowboy just play one tune more
For I'd rather hear the fiddle or the touch of one string
Than see the waters glide and the nightingale sing
Than see the waters glide and the nightingale sing

And now, my handsome cowboy will you marry me
No pretty lady that never can be
For I've a wife in Amarillo and children twice three
And two wives on a cow ranch are too many for me
Two wives on the cow ranch are too many for me

Now I'll go down to Mexico come the first of the year
I'll drink lots of wine, I'll drink lots of beer
And If I ever return it'll be in the spring
To see the waters glide and the nightingales sing
To see the waters glide hear the nightingale sing