Traditional Sea Shanties & Sea Songs
Blackbird

A Collection of lyrics for traditional Sea Shanties & Songs of the Sea.

Blackbird

I am a young sailor,
My story is sad
Though once I was carefree,
And a brave sailor lad
I courted a lassie,
By night, and by day
But now, she has left me,
And sailed far away.

Chorus:
Oh if I was a blackbird,
And could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel,
My true love sails in
And in that top riggin',
I would there build my nest
And I'd flutter my wings
O'er her lily white breast.

2. Or if I was a scholar,
And could handle the pen
One secret love-letter,
To my true love I'd send
And tell of my sorrow,
My grief and my pain
Since she's gone and left me,
In yon floating land
Chorus:

3. I've sailed on the ocean,
My fortune to seek
Oh, I miss her caress,
And her kiss on my cheek
I returned and I told her,
My love was still warm
But she turned away lightly,
And great was her scorn
Chorus:

4. I offered to take her,
To Donneybrooke fair
And to buy her fine ribbons,
To tie up her hair
I offered to marry,
And stay by her side
But she says in the morning,
She sails with the tide
Chorus:

5. My parents, they chide me,
They will not agree
Saying that me and my false-love,
Married shouldn't never be
Ah, but let them deprive me,
And do what they will
While there's breath in my body,
She's the one I love still
Chorus: