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           F              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
[]