Lyrics:

1990Writer(s): Michael MurpheyAs I was out walkin'' and ramblin'' one dayI spied a fair couple a-comin'' my wayOne was a lady, as fair as could beAnd the other was a cowboy, and a brave one was heHe said ''Where are you goin'', my pretty fair maid?''''Just down by the river, just down by the shadeJust down by the river, just down by the springTo 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 bowHe tuned his old fiddle all on the high stringAnd he played this tune over and over againThen said the cowboy ''I should have been gone''''No, no'', said the pretty maid. ''Just play one more songI''d rather hear the fiddle just played on one stringThan see the wild ripplin'' waters and hear the nightingale sing''He tuned up his fiddle and rosined his bowAnd he played her a lecture, he play it so lowHe played her a lecture all on the high string''Hark, hark'', said the pretty maid, ''hear the nightingale sing''She says ''Dear cowboy, will you marry me?''''No, no, pretty maid, that never can beI''ve a wife in Arizona, a lady is sheOne wife and one ranch are plenty for me''''I''ll go to Mexico, and I''ll stay there one yearI''ll drink a lot of wine, I''ll drink a lot of beerIf I ever come back it will be in the springTo see the wild ripplin'' waters and hear the nightingale sing''Come all you young ladies, take warning from meNever place your affections in a cowboy so freeHe''ll go away and leave you as mine left meLeave you rocking the cradle, singing ''Bye, oh baby''