As I was out walkin' and ramblin' one day
I spied a fair couple a-comin' my way
One was a lady, as fair as could be
And the other was a cowboy, and a brave one was he
He said "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 wild ripplin' waters and hear the nightingale sing"

Well they hadn't been there but an hour or so
'Til he drew from his satchel a fiddle and bow
He tuned his old fiddle all on the high string
And he played this tune over and over again
Then said the cowboy "I should have been gone"
"No, no", said the pretty maid. "Just play one more song
I'd rather hear the fiddle just played on one string
Than see the wild ripplin' waters and hear the nightingale sing"