The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5837 Message #21419
Posted By: Rick
14-Feb-98 - 03:46 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
Subject: Lyr Add: VOYAGE (Bobby Sands)
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.