JIM JONES AT BOTANY BAY

Oh listen for a moment lads and hear me tell my tale
How o'er the sea from England's shores I was compelled to sail
The jury says he guilty sir and said the judge says he
For life, Jim Jones, I'm sending you across the stormy sea.

And take my tip before you ship to join the iron gang
Don't be too gay at Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang
Or else you'll surely hang says he, and after that Jim Jones
It's high upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones.

You'll have no chance for mischief there, remember what I say
They'll flog the poaching out of you, out there at Botany Bay
The waves were high upon the sea; the wind blew up in gales
I'd rather have drowned in misery than come to New South Wales.

The winds blew high upon the sea and the pirates came along
But the soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong
They opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away
I'd rather joined that pirate ship than come to New South Wales.

For day and night the irons clang and like poor galley slaves
We toil and toil and when we die, must fill dishonoured graves
But bye and bye I'll break my chains, into the bush I'll go
And join the bold bushrangers there Jack Donahue and Co.

And some dark night when everything is silent in the town
I'll kill the tyrants one and all, and shoot the floggers down
I'll give the law a little shock - remember what I say
They'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay.

ROUD 5478 anon Transport Ballad, dating from late 1820s, but first published c.1890s by Charles MacAlister. The tune is “Irish Mollie, Oh!” (OR is sometimes “Skibbereen” - apparently)


A very popular number with upcoming generations investigating folk music!
But here is The Bushwackers and Bullockies band rendition which apparently uses a Mick Slocum tune and which many a British folkie picked up after their 1974 tour : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVkYnRy5JF4     Which I quite like.
However, I am far more used to this tune : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCZp1lIMMk   sung in 1964 by Marian Henderson for the famous PIX magazine recordings -
(but which is NOW known as “The Hateful Eight” Song – such is the power of Hollywood!!!!)
Old Crow Medicine Show has this take, c.2010 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kD3wYO8MHk (only they used to think that it was a Dylan song!)

Any More?!

R-J