The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #34061   Message #1636066
Posted By: Tootler
28-Dec-05 - 12:21 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Van Diemen's Land
Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: VAN DIEMEN'S LAND (from Roy Palmer)
The Second version is very similar but is based in England rather than Scotland

Come all ye gallant poachers that ramble void of care,
While walking out on a moonlight night, with your dog, your gun and snare;
With your hares and lofty pheasant you have at your command,
Not thinking on your last career upon Van Diemen's land.

It's poor Tom Brown from Nottingham, Jack Williams and poor Joe,
We were three daring poachers, the country well did know;
At night we were trepanned by the keepers hid in sand,
And for fourteen years transported to Van Diemen's land.

The first day that we landed upon this fatal shore
The planters that came round us, full twenty score or more,
They rank'd us up like horses, and sold us out of hand,
And yok'd us to the ploughs, my boys, to plough Van Diemen's land.

The cottage that we lived in was built of clod and clay;
With rotten straw for bedding, we dare not say them nay;
Our cots are fenced with fire, and we slumber when we can,
to drive away wolves and tigers which infest Van Diemen's land.

There was a poor girl from Birmingham, Susan Simmons was her name,
For fourteen years transported, you all have heard the same.
Our captain bought her freedom, and married her out of hand,
She gave to us good usage, upon Van Diemen's land.

It's oft times when I slumber I have a pleasant dream:
With my pretty girl I have been roving down by a sparkling stream;
In England I've been roving with her at my command,
But I wake broken-hearted upon Van Diemen's land.

Come all you daring poachers, give hearing to my song:
It's a bit of good advice although it is not long.
Lay aside your dogs and snares, to you I must speak plain,
For if you knew our hardships you'd never poach again.

Source: Palmer, Roy (Ed), "English Country Song Book" J M Dent & Sons, 1979

Roy Palmer does not use "The Star of County Down" as the tune, but supplies a completely different one which I have provided as an abc below

T:Van Diemen's Land
C:Traditional
S:Roy Palmer, English Country Song Book
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C

c2|c3 B G2 E2|(F2 DC) B,2 (CD)|E2 F2 C2 B,2|C6 (CD)|
E3 F (GA) B|c3 d (cB) (GA)|B2 d2 (cB) G|G6
|:(CD)|E3 F (GA) B2|(c3 d) (cB) (GA)|B2 d2 (cB) (GA)|B3 d2|
c3 B G2 E2|F2 (DC) B,2 (CD)|E2 F2 C2 B,2|C6 :|

These variants are quite minor ones of previously listed versions, but the different tune is interesting.