If I Was A Blackbird

Intro.

Dm Am x2

Verse

Dm           Am         C        Dm
I am a young sailor, my story is sad

Dm             Am             C            Dm
For once I was carefree and a brave sailor lad

Dm          Am        C            Dm
I courted a lassie by night and by day

Dm              Am          C          Dm
But now she has left me and sailed far away


Chorus

Dm            Am               C           Dm
Oh if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing

Dm             Am        C               Dm
I’d follow the vessel my true love sails in

Dm             Am              C              Dm
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest

Dm                 Am             C          Dm
And I’d flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast


Verse

Dm            Am                C        Dm
Or if I was a scholar and could handle a pen

Dm              Am           C             Dm
One secret love letter to my true love I’d send

Dm                 Am         C            Dm
And I’d tell of my sorrow, my grief and my pain

Dm                   Am         C           Dm
Since she’s gone and left me in yon flowery glen


Chorus

Dm            Am               C           Dm
Oh if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing

Dm             Am        C               Dm
I’d follow the vessel my true love sails in

Dm             Am              C              Dm
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest

Dm                 Am             C          Dm
And I’d flutter my wings o’er her lily-white breast


Verse

Dm                Am        C          Dm
I sailed o’er the ocean, my fortune to seek

Dm                  Am             C          Dm
Though I missed her caress and her kiss on my cheek

Dm               Am          C              Dm
I returned and I told her my love was still warm

Dm                  Am          C             Dm
But she turned away lightly and great was her scorn


Chorus

Dm            Am               C           Dm
Oh if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing

Dm             Am        C               Dm
I’d follow the vessel my true love sails in

Dm             Am              C              Dm
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest

Dm                 Am             C          Dm
And I’d flutter my wings o’er her lily-white breast


Verse

Dm           Am          C          Dm
I offered to take her to Donnybrook Fair

Dm                  Am         C          Dm
And to buy her fine ribbons to tie up her hair

Dm           Am           C           Dm
I offered to marry and to stay by her side

Dm                  Am          C               Dm
But she said in the morning she sailed with the tide


Chorus

Dm            Am               C           Dm
Oh if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing

Dm             Am        C               Dm
I’d follow the vessel my true love sails in

Dm             Am              C              Dm
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest

Dm                 Am             C          Dm
And I’d flutter my wings o’er her lily-white breast


Verse

Dm              Am            C        Dm
My parents they chide me, and will not agree

Dm                          Am           C            Dm
Saying that me and my false love married should never be

Dm              Am             C                     Dm
Ah but let them deprive me, or let them do what they will

Dm                         Am              C               Dm
While there’s breath in my body, she's the one that I love still


Chorus

Dm            Am               C           Dm
Oh if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing

Dm             Am        C               Dm
I’d follow the vessel my true love sails in

Dm             Am              C              Dm
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest

Dm                 Am             C          Dm
And I’d flutter my wings o’er her lily-white breast