1. 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.

Oh if I was a blackbird,
And could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel,
My [bad word] 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 [bad word] 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

Oh if I was a blackbird,
And could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel,
My [bad word] 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.

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

Oh if I was a blackbird,
And could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel,
My [bad word] 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.

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

Oh if I was a blackbird,
And could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel,
My [bad word] 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.

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

Oh if I was a blackbird,
And could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel,
My [bad word] 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.