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.


abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Singing Together, Spring 1968, BBC Publications

Notes:


Roud: 3267 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child:

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Related Songs:  Adieu to Old England (thematic)