1. O tell me where the Dove has flown
To build her downy nest,
And I will search this world all o’er,
And win her to my breast,
And win her to my breast.

2. I sought her in the rosy bower
Where pleasure holds her reign;
Where fancy flies from flower to flower,
But there I sought in vain,
But there I sought in vain.

3. I sought her in the bower of love,
I knew her tender heart;
But she had flown—that Peaceful Dove
Had felt a traitor’s dart,
Had felt a traitor’s dart.

4. Upon Ambition’s craggy hill,
The Bird of Peace might stray;
I sought her there, though vainly still,
She never flew that way,
She never flew that way.

5. Faith smiled, and shed the tender tear,
To see my search around,
And whispered “I will tell you where
The Dove may yet be found,
The Dove may yet be found.”

6. “In meek Religion’s humble cot,
She built her downy nest;
Go, seek that sweet secluded spot,
And win her to thy breast,
And win her to thy breast.”


The text below is as it appears in The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion, 1854.

1. O tell me where the Dove has flown
To build her downy nest,
And I will rove this world all o’er,
To win her to my breast,
To win her to my breast.

2. I sought her in the groves of love,
I knew her tender heart;
But she had flown—the Dove of Peace
Had felt a traitor’s dart,
Had felt a traitor’s dart.

3. I sought her on the flow’ry lawn,
Where pleasure holds her train;
But fancy flies from flower to flower,
So there I sought in vain,
So there I sought in vain.

4. ’Twas on Ambition’s craggy hill,
The Bird of Peace might stray;
I sought her there, though vainly still,
She never flew that way,
She never flew that way.

5. Faith smiled, and shed a silent tear,
To see my search around,
Then whispered “I will tell you where
The Dove may yet be found,
The Dove may yet be found.”

6. “By meek Religion’s humble cot,
She builds her downy nest;
Go, seek that sweet secluded spot,
And win her to your breast,
And win her to your breast.”