Blackbird
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
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 - sung after every verse
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.
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
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
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
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
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
