The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #16331   Message #151662
Posted By: Alan of Australia
19-Dec-99 - 08:04 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Botany Bay + Don't Come Again
Subject: Lyr Add: SHORES OF BOTANY BAY
G'day,
"The Shores Of Botany Bay" doesn't appear to be in the data base. Here's an "authentic" version.

SHORES OF BOTANY BAY

I'm on me way down to the quay where the good ship Nell does lay
To command a gang of navvies I was ordered to engage
And I thought I would call in for a while before I sailed away
To take a trip on an immigrant ship to the shores of Botany Bay.

Chorus
Farewell to your bricks and mortar farewell to your dirty lime
Farewell to your gangway and your gang plank and to hell with your overtime
For the good ship Ragamuffin is lying at the quay
For to take old Pat with a shovel on his back to the shores of Botany Bay.

The best years of our lives we spend at working on the docks
Building mighty wharves and quays of earth and ballast rocks
Our pensions keep our lives secure but I'll not rue the day
When I take a trip on an immigrant ship to the shores of Botany Bay.

The boss came up this morning and he said "Well, Pat, hello,
If you do not mix that mortar quick be sure you'll have to go."
Well of course he did insult me i demanded all me pay
And I told him straight I was gonna emigrate to the shores of Botany Bay.

And when I reach Australia I'll go and search for gold
There's plenty there for digging up or so I have been told
Or maybe I'll go back to me trade eight hundred bricks I'll lay
For an eight hour shift and an eight bob pay on the shores of Botany Bay.