The Convict’s Lament on the Death of Captain Logan’. arranged by Graham Dodsworth
Traditional.
This version: 2016-05-21

One Sunday Morning as I was walking,
By Brisbane waters I chanced to stray,
I heard a prisoner, his fate bewailing,
As on the sunny river bank he lay.
I am a native of Erin’s island
Now banished from my native shore
They tore me from my aged parents
And from the maiden I do adore.

I’ve been a prisoner at Port MacQuarrie,
At Norfolk Islands and Emu Plains,
At Castle Hill and at Toongabbie,
At all those settlements I‘ve worked in chains,
But of all the places of condemnation 
And Penal stations of New South Wales,
To Moreton Bay I have found no equal,
Excessive tyranny prevails.

For three long years I was beastly treated and
Heavy irons on my legs I wore
My back with flogging is lacerated and 
Oft times painted with my crimson gore
And there’s many a man from downright starvation
Lies mouldering underneath the clay
And Captain Logan he had us mangled at the 
Triangles of Moreton Bay.

Like the Egyptians and Ancient Hebrews 
We were oppressed under Logan’s yoke
Till a native lying there in ambush 
Did give our tyrant his mortal stroke.
My fellow prisoners be exhilarated that
All such monsters this death should find
And when from bondage we are liberated
Our former sufferings shall fade from mind.

The second verse was not recorded on ‘In Good King Arthur’s Day’ because the song was too long.  Many songs fail to be exposed to the general populous at all because they fail to hold the attention of modern day audiences used to formula entertainment on television, cinema screens and commercial radio.  By editing the less relevant verses from a song it is more likely to gain acceptance and therefore gain eventual exposure to the other verses that otherwise may never have been realised.