One Morning In May
Country Gentlemen Lyrics

One morning, one morning, one morning in May,
On a morning in May, the singer narrates an event which happened to him when he spotted a couple walking by.

I spied a young couple; they were making their way
The singer saw a young couple walking on their way.

And one was a lady so bright and so fair,
One of them was a lady who looked pretty and lovely.

And the other was a soldier, and a brave volunteer
The other one was a soldier and he seemed to be courageous.

Good morning, good morning, good morning, said he,
The soldier greeted the lady with a cheerful tone.

And where are you going my pretty lady,
The soldier inquired about the destination of the lady.

I'm going out a walking by the banks of the sea,
The lady replied that she was going for a walk near the seashore.

Just to see the waters roll and hear the nightingale sing.
The lady wanted to enjoy the scenery of the sea along with the sweet melody of a nightingale.

Now they had not been standing but a minute or so
They had not been there for a long time before the soldier took out his fiddle.

When out of his knapsack a fiddle he drew
The soldier took out his fiddle from his knapsack.

And the tune that he played made the valleys to ring
The tune played by the soldier echoed through the valleys.

Oh hark, cried the maiden, hear the nightingales sing
The lady was charmed by the tune and compared it to the song of the nightingale.

Oh maiden, fair maiden, 'tis time to give o'er
The soldier suggested that they end the musical session.

Oh no, kind soldier, please play one tune more
The lady requested the soldier to play one more tune.

For I'd rather hear your fiddle with the touch of one string
The lady enjoyed the sound of the fiddle more than the scenery and the nightingale's song.

Than to see the waters glide and hear the nightingales sing
The lady preferred listening to the fiddle over enjoying the beautiful seashore and listening to the nightingale's song.

Oh soldier, kind soldier, will you marry me?
The lady asked the soldier if he wants to marry her.

Oh no, pretty maiden, that never shall be
The soldier declined the lady's proposal for marriage.

I've a wife down in London and children twice three
The soldier explained that he already has a wife and kids in London.

Two wives and the army's too many for me
The soldier refused to have two wives along with his already demanding career in the army.

Well I'll go back to London and I'll stay there for a year
The soldier decided to go back to London and stay there for a year.

It's often that I'll think of you my little dear
The soldier claimed that he would not forget the lady and often think about her.

And if ever I return it'll be in the spring
The soldier said that he would come back in the spring if he ever returns there.

Come dry up your tears, there is nothing to fear
The soldier consoled the lady to stop crying as there is nothing to worry about.

I will roam these green valleys now for many's a long year
The soldier stated that he would travel through these green valleys for many years from now onward.

When the birds sang so sweet, this young man proved his deceit
The singer claimed that this soldier was not trustworthy even though the birds sang sweetly.

Saying adieu, lovely fair maid, we will never more meet
The soldier said goodbye to the lady and stated that they would never meet again.

With my snuff box and cane, this whole world I will range
The soldier said that he would travel throughout the world, holding a snuff box and cane.

Like Venus or Diana in search of her swain
The soldier compared himself to Venus or Diana, who were also searching for their loved ones.

When the moon shines so clear, I will mourn for my dear
The soldier mentioned that he will miss his dear one when the moon shimmers bright in the sky.

Over mountains, clear fountains, where no one can hear
The soldier will mourn for his dear one in the mountains and clear fountains where nobody can listen to his cries.

There's one thing that I know, and that before I go
The singer stated that there's one thing he knows, which he would like to tell before he finishes.

I will never return for to hear her sad woe
The one thing that the singer knows is that he will never come back to hear the lady's sad stories or worries.

There's another thing I know and that before I go
The singer stated that he knows another thing which he would like to share before he finishes.

That the ranger and the stranger have many's the foe.
The singer warned about the dangers of being a ranger or a stranger, as they may have many foes.