The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15809   Message #97610
Posted By: Joe Offer
21-Jul-99 - 07:44 AM
Thread Name: Origin: Isle of France / Ile de France
Subject: ADD: Ile (Isle) de France^^
The Nic Jones lead was what I needed to find it.


ISLE OF FRANCE

Oh the sky was dark and the night advanced
When a convict came to the Isle of France
And around his leg was a ring and chain
And his country was of the shamrock green.

"Oh I'm from the Shamrock", this convict cried
"That has been tossed on the ocean wide.
For being unruly, I do declare
I was doomed to transport these seven long years.

"When six of them they were up and passed
I was coming home to make up the last
When the winds did blow and the seas did roar
They cast me here on this foreign shore".

So then the coastguard he played a part
And with brandy he cheered the convict's heart
Although the night it is far advanced
You shall find a friend on the Isle of France.

So he sent a letter all to the queen
Concerning the wreck of the Shamrock Green
And his freedom came by a speedy post
For the absent convict they thought was lost.

"God bless the coastguard", this convict cried
"For he saved my life from the ocean wide
And I'll drink his health in a flowing glass
And here's to success to the Isle of France".

----
Traditional
Sung by Nic Jones on "Noah's Ark Trap"

JRO

Is the "Isle of France" a ship or an island? If a ship, then I hope Sandy will forgive the lack of italics.
thanks for the info, sue - I added the italics before Sandy caught me naming a ship without italics. (grin)
Anybody know the story behind this song?
-Joe Offer-^^