David, the original poem by Bobbie Sands is called Voyage. You can find it in the book, Bobby Sands; Writings from prison. Here it is:

It was 1803 when we sailed out to sea
And away from the sweet town of Derry.
For Australia bound, if we didn't all drown,
The marks of our fetters we'd carry.

Our ship was the Gull, fourteen days out of Hull
And on orders to carry the croppy
Like a ghost in the night as she sailed out of sight
Leaving many a wee'an unhappy

In our rusty iron chains, we cried out for our wee'ans.
Our good wives we'd left in our sorrow.
As the main sails unfurled, our curses we hurled
At the English and thoughts of tomorrow

At the mouth of the Foyle, bade farewell to our soil
As the sea turned as blue as the heavens.
The breeze filled our sails of a yellowish pale
And the captain lay drunk in his cabin.

The Gull cut the sea, carving our destiny
And the sea spray rose white and came flying.
O'Doherty screamed, awoken out of his dreams
By a vision of bold Robert dyin'.

The sun burnt us cruel as they dished out the gruel
Dan O'Conner lay dying with fever
60 Rebels today, bound for Botany Bay
God, how many would reach the receiver?

I cursed them to Hell as our bow fought the swell
And we danced like a moth in the firelight
White horses rode high, as the Devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades in the twilight.

Five weeks out to sea, we were now 43
And the strongest wept bitter like children.
Jesus, we screeched and our God we beseeched
But all we got was a prayer from the pilgrim.

In our own slime, we were lost in the time
Hoping God in his mercy would claim us,
But our spirits shone high like stars in the sky
We were rebels and no man would tame us.

We were all about lost, two round score was our cost
When the man on the mast shouted, "Land hoe!"
The crew gave a cheer as we cradled our fear
And the fathoms gave up and we swam low.

Van Diemans Land is a hell for a man
To live out his whole life in slavery
Where the climate is raw and a gun makes the law
Neither wind nor rain care for bravery.

Twenty long years have gone and I've ended my bond
My comrade's ghosts walk beside me.
A rebel I came, I'll die just the same
It's on the cold wind at night that you'll find me.

Slainte
Rick