The two verses quoted by Paul Jay are almost identical to a bluegrass version recorded by Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen in 1973 on their Vanguard album (Vanguard 79331), titled "The Country Gentlemen."

ONE MORNING IN MAY

(Trad)

One morning, one morning, one morning in May,
I spied a young couple, they were making their way.
One was a maiden, so bright and so fair,
The other, a soldier, and a brave volunteer.

"Good morning, good morning, good morning," said he,
"Where are you going, my pret-ty lad-y?"
"I'm going out walking, on the banks of the sea,
To see the waters rise, hear the nightingale sing."

They had not been standing, but a minute or two,
When out of his knapsack, a fiddle he drew.
The tune that he played, made the valleys all ring.
"O, hark!" cried the lady, "Hear the nightingale sing!"

"O maiden, fair maiden, 'tis time to give o'er."
"Oh no, kind soldier, please play one tune more!
I'd rather you fiddled, the touch of one string,
Than see the waters rise, hear the nightingale sing!"

"O soldier, kind soldier, will you marry me?"
"Oh no, pretty maiden, that never can be!
I've a wife down in London, and children twice three.
Two wives and the army's, too many for me!"

"I'll go back to London, and stay for a year.
It's often I'll think, of you my little dear.
If ever I return, it'll be in the Spring,
To see the waters rise, hear the nightingale sing!"