| Author | Topic: Add: Botany Bay | |
| dmcg | Posted - 09 Oct 04 - 11:37 am | |
Farewell to old England for ever, Farewell to my old pals as well, Farewell to the well-known Old Bailey Where I once used to look such a swell. (chorus) Singing too-ral, li-oo-ral li-ad-di-ty, Singing too-ral, li-oo-ral, li-ay, Singing too-ral, li-oo-ral, li-ad-di-ty, For we're bound for the Botany Bay. There's the captain as is our commander, There's the bosun and all the ship's crew, There's the first and the second class passengers, Knows what we poor convicts go through. 'Taint leaving old England we cares about, 'Yaint 'cos we mis-spells wot we knows, But becos all we light-fingered gentry Hops around with a log on our toes. Oh! had I the wings of a turtle-dove I'd soar on my pinions so high, Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love, And in her sweet presence I'd die. Now all my young Dookies and Duchesses, Take warning from what I've to say, Mind all is your own that you touchesses Or you'll find us in Botany Bay. Source: Singing Together, Spring 1968, BBC Publications | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 09 Oct 04 - 05:20 pm | |
Roud 3267. A longer text can be seen in the Digital Tradition, which notes: "First published in [Australia in the] Sydney Golden Songster in 1893. This song is a burlesque, written by [H P] Stephens and [William] Yardley, from the comedy Little Jack Shepherd that played in London in 1885, and in Melbourne in 1886." http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?songid=867 It includes verses borrowed from Adieu to all Judges and Juries, which appeared on broadsides under a number of titles. Not to be confused with other, earlier Botany Bay songs. Penal transportation was abolished in 1868. See also notes to Here's Adieu to All Judges and Juries William Yardley (1849-1900) was also a distinguished cricketer. | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 09 Oct 04 - 06:49 pm | |
Interesting link, Malcolm. I had assumed the line 'and in her sweet presence I'd die' was bowdlerised from the more common 'and on her sweet bosom I'd lie' for the sake of the schoolchildren, but I see that the DT version has 'presence' as well. Yet another indication of the dangers of making assumptions! | ||