Botany Bay

Jailbird Song?

According to legend a tune by the name of Botany Bay was written by a convict transported to Botany Bay (Australia) in the early 1800s. There are numerous songs of that title, so that specific tune could be one of several.

The Music
Botany Bay
[ 4:48 ] [ 24k ]

The Song
The song in this book which is sung to the tune of
"Botany Bay"

1. Cucumber Song
2. Fanny Bay

Botany Bay

Farewell to old England the beautiful!
Farewell to my old pals as well!
Farewell to the famous Old Baily
Where I used to cut such a swell.

Chorus
My Too-ral li Roo-lal li Laity
Too-ral li Roo-lal li Lay
Too-ral li Roo-lal li Laity
Too-ral li Roo-lal li Lay!

It's seven long years I been serving,
It's seven I got for to stay,
For beatin' a cop down our alley
An' takin' his truncheon away.

Chorus

There's the captain what is our commander,
The bos'n an' all the ship's crew,
The married and also the single ones
Knows what us poor convicts goes through.

Chorus

It ain't that they don't give us grub enough,
It ain't that they don't give us clothes;
It's all 'cause we light-fingered gentry
Goes about with a chain on our toes.

Chorus

O had I the wings of a turtle dove,
I'd spread out my pinions and fly
Into the arms of my Polly love
And on her soft bosom I'd lie.

Chorus

Now all you young viscounts and duchesses
Take warning by what I do say,
And mind it's all yours what you touches-es
Or you'll land down in Botany Bay.