Jim Jones at Botany Bay

Play Video Folk Songs Australian

Listen for a moment lads and hear me tell my tale
How o'er the sea from England shore I was condemned to sail
How jury found me guilty, sir and said the judge, said he
For life, Jim Jones, I sentence you across the stormy sea

But take my tip before you ship to join the iron gang
Don't be too gay in Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang
Or else you'll surely hang, he says and after that, Jim Jones
High up upon them gallows trees the crows will pick your bones

There's no time for mischief there remember what I say
They'll flog the poaching out of you down in Botany Bay
The waves were high upon the sea, the winds blowing gales
I'd rather drowned in misery than gone to New South Wales

The waves were high upon the seas 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 joined that pirate ship than gone to Botany Bay

And one dark night  everything is quiet in the town
I'll kill you bastards one and all I'll gun the floggers down
I'll give them a little shock remember what I say
They'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay