Blackbird Of Sweet Avondale chords and lyrics
An Irish folk song- The Wolfe Tones, also recorded by Silly Wizard. There's another song called ''Avondale'' which was recorded by Irish folk singer Mary Black. I've no idea who the song writer. It's about Charles Stewart Parnell. Avondale is where he lived in Co. Wicklow. The singer in the video is the great Tommy Byrne with The Wolfe Tones, a beautiful haunting tune. The guitar chords are by Marc Fahrbach. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included.
In the (C)fair bay of (Em)Dublin, while (C)careless(Em)ly (Am)strolling
I (C)sat myself (Am)down near a (Em)clear crystal (Am)Stream
Re(C)clined on the (Am)beach, as the (Em)wild waves were (Am)rolling
In (C)sorrow con(Em)doning, I (C)heard a (G)fair (C)maid
Her (C)hopes changed to (Em)mourning, that (C)once were (Em)so (Am)glorious
I (C)stood in a(Am)mazement to (Em)hear her sad (Am)tale
Her (C)heartstrings were (Am)torn in wild (Em)ascent so (Am)glorious
Saying, (C)where is my (Em)Blackbird of (C)sweet (G)Avon(C)dale.
"In the (C)fair counties (Em)Kerry, through (C)Cork, and (Em)Tip(Am)perary,
The (C)rights of Old (Am)Ireland, my (Em)Blackbird did (Am)sing
But (C)woe to the (Am)hour, with the (Em)dark lights in (Am)Derry
When (C)he from my (Em)arms, to (C)Dublin (G)took (C)way"
"Oh, (C)Heaven, give (Em)ear to (C)my (Em)suppli(Am)cation
And (C)strengthen the (Am)bold sons of (Em)Old Granu(Am)aile
And (C)promise that my (Am)country will (Em)soon be a (Am)nation
And (C)bring back my (Em)Blackbird to (C)sweet (G)Avon(C)dale"
"Oh, (C)where in my (Em)country, a(C)wake (Em)from your (Am)slumbers
And (C)bring back my (Am)Blackbird, so (Em)dear unto (Am)me
And let (C)everyone (Am)know, by the (Em)strength of your (Am)numbers
That (C)we, as a (Em)nation, would (C)like to (G)be (C)free
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz)
↓ ↓ ↑
1 2 3
(Bass) (down–up)
Keep it gentle — thumb strikes the root bass note on beat 1,
soft down-up with fingers on beats 2–3.
Fingerpicking pattern (3/4):
T – I – M – I – M – I (Thumb on bass, Index & Middle on treble strings)
🌊 Verse 1
In the (C)fair bay of (Em)Dublin, while (C)careless(Em)ly (Am)strolling
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3------------------------3------------------------0--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------0----------------------------------|
C Em C Em Am
I (C)sat myself (Am)down near a (Em)clear crystal (Am)Stream
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------0------------------------0-----------0-----------0--------|
E|-------------------------------------0------------------------0--------|
C Am Em Am (Am hold)
Re(C)clined on the (Am)beach, as the (Em)wild waves were (Am)rolling
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------0------------------------0-----------0-----------0--------|
E|-------------------------------------0------------------------0--------|
C Am Em Am (Am hold)
In (C)sorrow con(Em)doning, I (C)heard a (G)fair (C)maid
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------0----------------|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1--------------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0------------|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2----------------------|
A|--3------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3----------------------------------|
C Em C G C
🎵 Chord Reference
C x32010
Em 022000
Am x02210
G 320003
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep the 3/4 lilt smooth, like a slow waltz on the tide.
Use open strings to create natural resonance.
Let the bass (thumb) alternate root–fifth subtly for motion.
On “I heard a fair maid,” slow slightly for a gentle emotional lift.
↓ ↓ ↑
1 2 3
(Bass) (down–up)
Keep it gentle — thumb strikes the root bass note on beat 1,
soft down-up with fingers on beats 2–3.
Fingerpicking pattern (3/4):
T – I – M – I – M – I (Thumb on bass, Index & Middle on treble strings)
🌊 Verse 1
In the (C)fair bay of (Em)Dublin, while (C)careless(Em)ly (Am)strolling
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3------------------------3------------------------0--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------0----------------------------------|
C Em C Em Am
I (C)sat myself (Am)down near a (Em)clear crystal (Am)Stream
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------0------------------------0-----------0-----------0--------|
E|-------------------------------------0------------------------0--------|
C Am Em Am (Am hold)
Re(C)clined on the (Am)beach, as the (Em)wild waves were (Am)rolling
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------1---1-------1---1--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---2-------2|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3-----------0------------------------0-----------0-----------0--------|
E|-------------------------------------0------------------------0--------|
C Am Em Am (Am hold)
In (C)sorrow con(Em)doning, I (C)heard a (G)fair (C)maid
e|-------0-----------0-----------0-----------3-----------0----------------|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------1---1-------0---0-------1---1--------------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0------------|
D|--2-----------2-----------2-----------0-----------2----------------------|
A|--3------------------------3------------------------3--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3----------------------------------|
C Em C G C
🎵 Chord Reference
C x32010
Em 022000
Am x02210
G 320003
☘️ Performance Tips
Keep the 3/4 lilt smooth, like a slow waltz on the tide.
Use open strings to create natural resonance.
Let the bass (thumb) alternate root–fifth subtly for motion.
On “I heard a fair maid,” slow slightly for a gentle emotional lift.
The blackbird of sweet Avondale sheet music and tin whistle notes
