Singable translation from John Anthony Scott, The Ballad of America (Bantam Books, 1966, pp. 297-300).

    ISABEAU S'Y PROMÈNE (ISABEL)

1. Isabel was a-walking
    Down in the garden green,
    Down in the garden green
         At the island's edge,
    Down in the garden green
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.

2. She met a band of sailors
    While she was walking there.
    While she was walking there
         At the island's edge,
    While she was walking there
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.

3. The youngest of the sailors
    He sang a song of love.
    He sang a song of love
         At the island's edge,
    He sang a song of love
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.

4. "Your song is such a sweet one,
    I'd like to sing it too.
    I'd like to sing it too
         At the island's edge,
    I'd like to sing it too
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride."

5. "Come with me to my tall ship
    And I'll sing you my song.
    And I'll sing you my song
         At the island's edge,
    And I'll sing you my song
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride."

6. She went on board that tall ship
    But soon began to cry.
    But soon began to cry
         At the island's edge,
    But soon began to cry
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.

7. "What's wrong, my pretty lady,
    That makes you so lament?
    That makes you so lament
         At the island's edge,
    That makes you so lament
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride?"

8. "I'm weeping for my gold ring
    That in the water fell.
    That in the water fell
         At the island's edge,
    That in the water fell
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride."

9. "Oh, do not cry my lady,
    I'll fetch it back for you.
    I'll fetch it back for you
         At the island's edge,
    I'll fetch it back for you
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride."

10. He dived into the ocean,
    But came up with no ring.
    But came up with no ring
         At the island's edge,
    But came up with no ring
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.

11. The next time that he dived there
    The golden ring did gleam.
    The golden ring did gleam
         At the island's edge,
    The golden ring did gleam
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.

12. The third time that he dived there,
    The youth no more was seen.
    The youth no more was seen
         At the island's edge,
    The youth no more was seen
         By the waterside
         Where the tall ships ride.