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Calach Help: relation between Ireland & Van Diemen's Land (73* d) Lyr Add: VAN DIEMEN'S LAND 24 Feb 00


Van Diemen's Land Lyrics as follows:
(To the tune; THE STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN)

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND

Come on ye gallant poachers that ramble void o' care
That waltz out on a moonlit night with dog and gun and snare
The harmless hare and pheasant, boys, ye have at your command
Never thinking that you'll be transported to Van Diemen's Land

For fourteen years and longer, I've been a poacher bold
I was aye stout and sturdy and I never felt the cold
One night I went to Ben-a-Bhuird, my gun into my hand
And the last thing on my mind was sailing to Van Diemen's Land

But waiting for to capture me, six keepers in a row
They've caught me and they've tied me, my luck to overthrow
They marched me off to Aberdeen, my trial for to stand
And the next day I am on a ship bound for Van Diemen's Land

'Twas in the month of April we were landed on the shore
The jailers came around us, full half a score or more
They drew us up like horses, and marched us off the sand
And yoked us to the ploughs, me boys, to plough Van Diemen's Land.

The houses that we dwell in here are made of clod and clay
With rotten straw for bedding to end our working day
Around our camps are blazing fires, we slumber when we can
And we fight the wolves and tigers here, upon Van Diemen's Land

Sometimes when I do slumber, I have a pleasant dream
That my true love was along wi' me doon by yon purlin' stream
In Scotland I am walking with her, walking hand in hand
But I wake up broken hearted, here in Van Diemen's Land

Here's a hearty health to all my friends that poacher are by name
Here's a toast unto the poacher lad when in pursuit of game
May they aye be at their liberty, not taken out of hand
Lest they be transported here unto Van Diemen's Land

Here's a health unto my native land as I look out from the shore
And to the bonnie braes o' Mar, for those I'll see no more
Fareweel unto the bonnie lass who'll never understand
Why I was roughly taken from her to Van Diemen's Land


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