i am a young maiden my story is sad for once i was carefree and in love with a lad he courted me sweetly by night and by day but now he has left me and gone far away chorus oh if i was a blackbird could whistle and sing i d follow the vessel my true love sails in and in the top rigging i would there build my nest and i d flutter my wings o er his broad golden chest he sailed o er the ocean his fortune to seek i missed his caresses and his kiss on my cheek he returned and i told him my love was still warm he turned away lightly and great was his scorn he offered to take me to donnybrook fair to buy me fine ribbons tie them up in my hair he offered to marry and to stay by my side but then in the morning he sailed with the tide my parents they chide me and will not agree saying that me and my true love married should never be ah but let them deprive me or let them do what they will while there s breath in my body he s the one that i love still male perspective i am a young sailor my story is sad for once i was carefree and a bold sailor lad i courted a lassie by night and by day but now she has left me and gone far away chorus oh if i was a blackbird could whistle and sing i d follow the vessel my true love sails in and in the top rigging 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 a pen one secret love letter to my true love i d send and i d tell of my sorrow my grief and my pain since she s gone and left me in yon flowery glen i sailed o er the ocean my fortune to seek though i missed 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 donnybrook fair and to buy her fine ribbons to tie up her hair i offered to marry and to stay by her side but she said in the morning she sailed with the tide my parents they chide me and will not agree saying that me and my false love married should never be ah but let them deprive me or let them do what they will while there s breath in my body she s the one that i love still