Snowy Breasted Pearl

There's a colleen fair as May for a year and for a day
 I have sought by every way her heart to gain
 There's no art of tongue or eye fond youths with maidens try
 Yet I've tried with ceaseless sigh yet tried in vain
 If to France or far off Spain she crossed the watery main
 To see her face again the seas I'd brave
 But if this is heaven's decree that mine she will not be
 May the Son of Mary me in mercy save
 Oh the blooming milk-white dove to whom I'd given true love
 Do not ever thus reprove my constancy
 Fairer maidens would be mine with wealth and land and kine
 If my heart would but incline to turn from thee
 But a kiss with welcome bland and the touch of thy fair hand
 Are all that I demand wouldst thou not spurn
 But if not my dear girl, oh snowy breasted pearl
 May I never from the fair with life return
 If to France or far off Spain she crossed the watery main
 To see her face again the seas I'd brave
 But if not my dear girl, oh snowy breasted pearl
 May I never from the fair with life return