Lyrics The Wild Rippling Water - Alan Lomax

As I went a-walkin' and a-ramblin' one day
I met a fair couple a-makin' their way
And one was a lady and a fair one was she
And the other was a cowboy and a brave one was he
And the other was a cowboy and a brave one was he

"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
See the wild ripplin' water, hear the nightingale sing
See the wild ripplin' water, hear the nightingale sing"

They hadn't been there but an hour or so
Till out of his satchel drew fiddle and bow
He played a tune that made the woods ring
She said, "Hark, hark, hear the nightingale sing"
She said, "Hark, hark, hear the nightingale sing"

She said, "Dear cowboy, will you marry me?"
"Oh no, my little maiden, that never can be
I've a wife in Arizona and a lady is she
One wife on a cow ranch is a-plenty for me
One wife on a cow ranch is a-plenty for me"

"I'm goin' out to Mexico, I'll stay about a year
I'll drink red wine, I'll drink lots of beer
If I ever return it will be in the spring
To see waters glide and hear nightingale sing
To see waters glide and hear nightingale sing"

Come all you young ladies, take a warnin' by me
Don't place your affection in a cowboy so free
He'll go and leave you like minded me
Leave you to rock cradle, sing bye, oh baby
Leave you to rock cradle, sing bye, oh baby