ONE MAY MORNING EARLY

One May morning early I chanced for to roam,
and strolled through the fields by the side of the grove.
It was there I did hear the harmless birds sing,
and you never heard so sweet, you never heard so sweet
you never heard so sweet as the birds in the spring.

At the end of the grove I sat myself down,
and the song of the nightingale echoed all around.
Their song was so charming, their notes were so clear,
no music no songster, no music no songster,
no music no songster can with them compare.

All you that come here the small birds to hear,
I'll have you pay attention so pray all draw near.
And when you're growing old you will have this to say,
that you never heard so sweet, you never heard so sweet,
you never heard so sweet as the birds on the spray.

Traditional: Copper Family
Also recorded by Bellowhead