Lyrics:

1990**lf**Writer(s): Michael Murphey**lf****lf**As I was out walkin'' and ramblin'' one day**lf**I spied a fair couple a-comin'' my way**lf**One was a lady, as fair as could be**lf**And the other was a cowboy, and a brave one was he**lf**He said ''Where are you goin'', my pretty fair maid?''**lf**''Just down by the river, just down by the shade**lf**Just down by the river, just down by the spring**lf**To see the wild ripplin'' waters and hear the nightingale sing''**lf****lf**Well, they hadn''t been there but an hour or so**lf**''Til he drew from his satchel a fiddle and bow**lf**He tuned his old fiddle all on the high string**lf**And he played this tune over and over again**lf**Then said the cowboy ''I should have been gone''**lf**''No, no'', said the pretty maid. ''Just play one more song**lf**I''d rather hear the fiddle just played on one string**lf**Than see the wild ripplin'' waters and hear the nightingale sing''**lf****lf**He tuned up his fiddle and rosined his bow**lf**And he played her a lecture, he play it so low**lf**He played her a lecture all on the high string**lf**''Hark, hark'', said the pretty maid, ''hear the nightingale sing''**lf**She says ''Dear cowboy, will you marry me?''**lf**''No, no, pretty maid, that never can be**lf**I''ve a wife in Arizona, a lady is she**lf**One wife and one ranch are plenty for me''**lf****lf**''I''ll go to Mexico, and I''ll stay there one year**lf**I''ll drink a lot of wine, I''ll drink a lot of beer**lf**If I ever come back it will be in the spring**lf**To see the wild ripplin'' waters and hear the nightingale sing''**lf**Come all you young ladies, take warning from me**lf**Never place your affections in a cowboy so free**lf**He''ll go away and leave you as mine left me**lf**Leave you rocking the cradle, singing ''Bye, oh baby''