Jim Jones of Botany Bay arranged by Graham Dodsworth
Traditional.
This version: 2016-05-21

Listen for a moment lads and hear me tell me tale.
How o'er the sea from England I was compelled to sail.
The jury said 'he's guilty Sir' and said the judge says he,
'For life, Jim Jones, I'm sending you, across the stormy sea.

'But take me tip before you ship to join the iron gang.
They'll flog the poaching out of you, or next time you will hang.
You'll have no chance for mischeif there, remember that Jim Jones.
Or high upon the gallows tree, the crows will pick your bones.'

They stowed us into prison hulks for nine months and a day.
Then four on board the Surrey, bound for Botany Bay.
Four months rolling on the sea while winds blew up in gales.
I'd rather have drowned in misery than come to New South Wales.

The waves were high upon the sea when the pirates came along.
The soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong.
They opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away.
I'd rather have joined the buccaneers than come to Botany Bay.

For night and day the irons clang and just like poor galley slaves,
We toil and toil and when we die must fill dishonoured graves.
But by and by I'll break my chains into the bush I'll go,
And join the bold bushranger there, Jack Donohoe and Co.

And one dark night when everything is silent in the town.
I'll kill the bastards one and all. I'll shoot those floggers down.
I'll give the law a little shock, remember what I say!
They'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones, in chains to Botany Bay.