Lily White Breast

From a traditional Irish-language template, to the tune of Bríd Óg Ní Mháille - slightly modified - found on albums by Clannad @ www.Clannad.ie, Altan @ www.Altan.ie, The Corrs @ www.thecorrswebsite.com and others, as well as the following version sung by Mícheál Ó Dónaill, accompanied by Mick Hanley: (the line between verses is additional to the Irish versions, and I would slightly modify the tune)

With each breath of my breathing

Of you I'm surely dreaming,

For my heart and my mind

They are never at rest.

As distracted forth I sally,

I am blind to hill and valley,

For all I see before me

Is your lily-white breast.

O God, your lily-white breast!

Obsessed with my love's beauty

I neglect my chores and duty.

The rose and the lily

In her cheeks do contest.

A delicate rose petal

Is the lip that tests my mettle,

And the rose, it forms a crown

On her lily-white breast.

O God, her lily-white breast!

I've forsaken my own father,

I've forsaken my mother;

I've forsaken my brother

And all of the rest.

By her charms I am so taken

My very God I have forsaken;

And it's all for the sake of

Her lily-white breast.

O God, her lily-white breast!

You people of great learnin'

Know how Paris fought for Helen.

Well, I understand the passion

With which he was possessed.

For I'd truly drive a skewer
Through the heart of any boor
Who would try to prise my hand from
Her lily-white breast.

Yes, I’d truly drive a skewer

Through the heart of any boor

Who would try to prise my hand from

Her lily-white breast.