This text comes from Songs of French Canada, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.
Isabel, of the lily-white hand
(The wind is sighing in the sedge),
Was walking alone on the brown sea sand
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
There she met three sailors blithe and strong
(The wind is sighing in the sedge),
And the youngest sang a wonderful song
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
And the maiden listened and listened long
(The wind is sighing in the sedge);
"Fain would I learn the wonderful song"
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
"My bark rides yonder on the sea
(The wind is sighing in the sedge),
So come and I will teach it thee
(By the water's edge, the water's edge)
But when they had reached the sailor's bark
(The wind is sighing in the sedge)
The maiden's sunny brows grew dark
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
What evil chance hath happened thee
(The wind is sighing in the sedge)
That tears in those blue eyes I see?
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
The ring my mother gave to me
(The wind is sighing in the sedge)
Is fallen into the deep blue sea
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
Oh! dry thine eyes, my lady fair
(The wind is sighing in the sedge),
And I will dive and find it there
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
He dived once into the deep blue sea
(The wind is sighing in the sedge)—
Never a ring to the top brought he
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
He dived twice into the deep blue sea
(The wind is sighing in the sedge),
And the ring it flashed right gallantly
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).
He dived thrice into the deep blue sea
(The wind is sighing in the sedge);
Never again to the top came he
(By the water's edge, the water's edge).