The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE NIGHTINGALE

EARLY ONE MORNING, ONE MORNING IN SPRING,
TO HEAR THE BIRDS WHISTLE, THE NIGHTINGGALE SING, I MET A FAIR
MAIDEN WHO SWEETLY DID SING, "I'M GOING TO BE MARRIED NEXT MONDAY
MORNING. HOW OLD ARE YOU MY FAIR YOUNG MAID, HERE IN THIS VALLEY,
THIS VALLEY SO GREEN? HOW OLD ARE YOU MY FAIR YOUNG MAID? "I'M
GOING TO BE 16 NEXT MONDAY MORNING." WELL 16 YEARS OLD, THAT'S TOO
YOUNG FOR TO MARRY, SO TAKE MY ADVICE, FIVE YEARS LONGER TO TARRY,
FOR MARRAIGE BRINGS SORROWS AND TROUBLES BEGIN, SO PUT OFF YOUR
WEDDING FOR MONDAY MORNING. YOU TALK LIKE A MADMAN, A MAN WITH NO
SKILL. FIVE YEARS I HAVE WAITED AGAINST MY OWN WILL, AND NOW I'M
DETERMINED TO HAVE MY OWN WAY, AND I'M GOING TO BE MARRIED NEXT
MONDAY MORNING. NEXT MONDAY MORNING, THE BELLS THEY WILL RING,
MY TRUE LOVE WILL BUY ME A GAY GOLDEN RING. ALSO HE'LL BUY ME A
PRETTY NEW GOWN, TO WEAR AT MY WEDDING NEXT MONDAY MORNING.
NEXT MONDAY NIGHT WHEN I GO TO MY BED, I'LL TURN 'ROUND TO THE MAN
THAT I'VE WED. AROUND HIS MIDDLE MY ARMS THEY WILL FLING, OH I
WISH TO MY SOUL IT WAS MONDAY MORNING.

Submitter comment: THIS SONG WAS ARRANGED BY PAUL STOOKEKY, BUT THE WORDS ARE STILL
THE SAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): PAUL STOOKEY OF THE GROUP "PETER, PAUL & MARY?"

Date learned: CA03001974