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 



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 




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 



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 



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 



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