Thanks to all, because in locating lyrics it is seldom the work of one person.

FOR I HAD A SPIRIT ABOVE MY DEGREE by Alfred Perceval Graves

With the lark up above, the Lent lilies below,
Young Owen came courting, I could not say No !
But because I was poor and of humble degree,
His proud parents parted my Owen and me.

Had he only stood firm. I'd have waited for years ;
But Owen gave way ; so I forced back my tears,
And wed Hugh O'Donnell, long hopeless of me,
For I had a spirit above my degree.

But the sweet old croonawns evermore, evermore,
Owen whistled and sang as he went by our door ;
Yet I never looked out my old sweetheart to see ;
For I had a spirit above my degree.

For comfort, for comfort, I cried and I prayed,
Even while my sweet babe in my bosom was laid ;
But when in my face he laughed up from my knee,
Sweet comfort, sweet comfort it came back to me.


That is from

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/alfred-perceval-graves/the-irish-poems-volume-2-var/page-4-the-irish-poems-volume-2-var.shtml