The Blackbird Cifras

A political allagory disguised as a love song, writted for James Francis Edward Stuart,
known as the old pretender. The song may have originated in Ireland with the Jacobite following there. It is
also titled as "The Royal Blackbird" Also note that words ending in "ed" are pronouced with an additional
syllable as in "learn-ed" not learned.
 
[Verse 1]
A                 G          D          A
One fine summer's morning on quiet recreation,
A               D      Bm            A
I heard a young maiden a-making her moan
     G          D           A           D
Wi' sobbing and sighing and great lamentation,
    A           D              G         A
And saying, “My blackbird most royal has flown".
 
[Verse 2]
A             G             D      A
In England my blackbird and I were together,
A                  D          Bm          A
Where he was still gentle and generous of heart.
  G          D          A                   D
A woe to the time, that they sent him there tither,
    A             D               G        A
and now they have forced him from there to depart.
 
[Verse 3]
A                G          D        A
In Scotland he's deemed and highly esteemed,
A                 D         Bm          A
But in England he seemeth a stranger to be
        G          D      A             D
But his fame shall remain France and in Spain
A              D         G           A
Goodluck to my blackbird where'er he be.
 
[Verse 4]
A               G         D             A
But what if the fowler my blackbird has taken?
A                D           Bm           A
Then sadness and sorrow will be all be my tune.
    G        D         A     D
But if he is safe I’ll no be forsaken,
A               D           G         A
And hope yet to meet him in May or in June.
 
[Verse 5]
A                   G             D               A
For him through the fire, through mud and through mire
A             D           Bm     A
I’d go, for I love him to such a degree
          G        D        A        D
Who's constant and kind and noble of mind
A              D         G           A
Goodluck to my blackbird where'er he be.
 
[Verse 6]
A                G          D      A
The birds of the forest are a' met together,
A              D         Bm             A
The turtle has chosen to dwell wi' the dove,
    G    D            A            D
And I am resolved, in foul or fair weather,
     A           D             G         A
Once more in the springtime to follow my love.
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