;If I Was a Blackbird ;Traditional . Am Em G F I am a young sailor, my story is sad . C Em Am Em For once I was carefree and a bold sailor lad . C Em Am Em I courted a lassie by night and by day . Am Em G F Oh, but now she has left me and sailed far away [chorus] . Am Em G F Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing . C Em Am Em I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in . C Em Am Em And in the top rigging I would there build my nest . Am Em G F And I'd flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast [] . Am Em G F Or if I was a scholar and could handle a pen . C Em Am Em One secret love letter to my true love I'd send . C Em Am Em And I'd tell of my sorrow, my grief and my pain . Am Em G F Since she's gone and left me in yon flowery glen . Am Em G F I offered to take her to Donnybrook Fair . C Em Am Em And to buy her fine ribbons to tie up her hair . C Em Am Em I offered to marry and to stay by her side . Am Em G F But she says in the morning she sails with the tide [chorus] . Am Em G F Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing . C Em Am Em I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in . C Em Am Em And in the top rigging I would there build my nest . Am Em G F And I'd flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast [] [instrumental] . Am Em G F I sailed o'er the ocean my fortune to seek . C Em Am Em Though I missed her caress and her kiss on my cheek . C Em Am Em I returned and I told her my love was still warm . Am Em G F But she turned away lightly and great was her scorn . Am Em G F My parents they chide me, oh, they will not agree . C Em Am Em Saying me and my false love married should never be . C Em Am Em Oh, but let them deprive me, let them do what they will . Am Em G F While there's breath in my body she's the one that I love still [chorus] . Am Em G F Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing . C Em Am Em I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in . C Em Am Em And in the top rigging I would there build my nest . Am Em G F And I'd flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast []