(high g g g d d# a; low g g g c# d g) (G G° A, G G° B°|G/D G)
       C                         F°             C (trill a g)
  The Nightingale sighed for the moon's bright ray
                                 Am       E7     (trill b c#)
  And told his tale in his own melodious way!
  C7/E F       (G7/D C) G  
  He sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
         Em/G       G7     C
  ALL He sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
  
  The lowly vale for the mountain vainly sighed,
  To his humble wail the echoing hills replied.
  They sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
  
  ALL They sang "Ah, well-a-day!"
  
  
  RECITITIVO:
              C                       (B°)
  I know the value of a kindly chorus,
        E7                       Am
  But choruses yield little consolation
                F         Bb°          F   A
  When we have pain and sorrow too before us!
        (Dm)      A°                   G
  I love -- and love, alas, above my station!
                   G+                   Em             G7
  BUT (aside). He loves -- and loves a lass above his station!
                    B7                B°              A°
  ALL (aside). Yes, yes, the lass is much above his station!
  
  [Natural key would be E]
  (C B° C G7 G° C, G7 C) or, (low c, < c b a g f# f e g f e c b d c# d e c)
     C                        G7
  A maiden fair to see, the pearl of minstrelsy,
    Dm/A             C/G G
  A bud of blushing beauty;
   7   C          A7               Dm             E7/G#
  For whom proud nobles sigh, and with each other vie
     Am      G/D     D7 G  
  To do her menial's duty.
  
          G/D              D G (or: d highd, c b a a g)
  ALL: To do her menial's duty.
  
  7 F°                        C6  C       C5b   C
  A suitor, lowly born, with hopeless passion torn,
       G7           C° C
  And poor beyond denying,
       7                         F   
  Has dared for her to pine at whose exalted shrine
     Am/E     E7        Am
  A world of wealth is sighing.
           C       Am    E7  Am  G7
  ALL. A world of wealth is sighing.
  
      C                       G    
  Unlearned he in aught save that which love has taught
        Am           Dm   C G
  (For love had been his tutor);
  7    C/E       A7      G7/D               D°
  Oh, pity, pity me--our captain's daughter she,
      C/G     D    G7  Am
  And I that lowly suitor!
  Oh, pity, pity me--our captain's daughter she, 
      D7/G          G7  C  (C B° C G7 G° C, G7 C) or, (low c, c b a g f# f e g f e c, b d c# d e c)
  And he that lowly suitor!

G&S