One May morning early I chanced for to roam
And strode through the fields by the side of the grove
It was there that I heard the harmless birds sing
And you never heard so sweet
You ne'er heard so sweet
You ne'er 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 with them can compare

[instrumental]

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