Snowy Breasted Pearl Irish Song Lyrics And Chords

Written by  George Petrie. Recorded by Paddy Reilly , The Wolfe Tones , John McCormack  to name a few , The song dates back to 1855. The sheet music for tin whistle and the mandolin / banjo tab is included.

There's[C] Collen[Am] fair as[C] May for a year and for a [G7]day
I have[C] sought by eve[Am]ry[F] way her[G7] heart to [C]gain.
[C]There's no art of[Am] tongue or[C] eye, fond youths with maidens[G7] try
But I've[C] tried with[Am] ceaseless[F] sighs[G7] yet tried in[C] vain
If to[C] France or[Am] far off to[Em] Spain she'd[G] cross the watery[Em] main
To[F] see her face[D7] again the seas I'd[G7] brave
For if 'tis[C] heavens[Am] decre[C]e that mine she may notG7] be
May the[C] Son of[Am] Mary[F] me in[G7] mercy[C] save

Oh thou blooming milk-white dove,
To whom I've given true love,
Do not ever reprove my constancy;
There are maidens would be mine, with wealth in land or kine,
If my heart would but incline to turn from thee;
But a kiss with welcome bland, and a touch of thy fair hand,
Are all that I demand would'st thou not spurn,
For if not mine dear girl, oh snowy breasted pearl,
May I never from the fair with life return.

Here are the easy to follow letter notes which are slightly different than the sheet music. All the f and c notes are sharp.

A B      c d   c     B    A  d      F   B A      F    E   D E
There's a colleen fair as May For a year and for a day
F G     A         A   F  D  G      F    E       D  D   
I have sought by every way Her heart to gain
A   B     c  d    c   B        A  d     F B   A         F     E  D      E
There's no art of tongue or eye Fond youths with maidens try
F   G     A      A      F     D     G    F     E     D  D
Yet I've tried with ceaseless sigh And tried in vain.
D  E  F        A  d   B   c       d     e          d    c  B     A
If to France or far off Spain She crossed the watery main
A  B    c    d      f   e   d    c      B   AG  A
To see her face again The seas I'd brave
AB  c  d    c  B  B        A  d    F B   A      F       E  D  E
But if this is heaven's decree That mine she'll never be
F     G   A     A  F D   G  F   E  D    D
May the Son of Mary Me in mercy save.

Return to The Wolfe Tones Songs

Péarla an Bhrollaigh Bháin -Snowy Breasted Pearl In Irish

Tá cailín deas am chrá
Le bliain agus le lá
'S ní fhéadaim a fáil le bréaga;
Níl aiste chlis le rá
Dá gcanaid fir le mná
Nár chaitheamhar gan tábhacht lé-si,
Don Fhrainc nó don Spáinn
Dá téadh mo ghrá,
Go raghainn-se gach lá dá féachain;
'S maran dúinn atá i ndán
An ainnir chiúin seo d'fháil,
Och! Mac Muire na ngrás dár saora!

Is a chailín chailce bhláith,
Dá dtugas searc is grá,
Ná tuir-se gach tráth dhom éara;
'S a liacht ainnir mín 'n-a láimh,
Dá ngabhaimis id áit-se céile.
Póg is mile fáilte
Is barra geal do lámh
'Sé ' n-iarrainn-se go bráth mar spré leat;
'S maran domh-sa taoi tú i ndán,
A phéarla an bhrollaigh bháin,
Nár thí mise slán ón aonach!