The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24862   Message #288902
Posted By: Little Hawk
31-Aug-00 - 09:07 PM
Thread Name: Favorite Badman Ballads
Subject: Lyr Add: JIM JONES (Bob Dylan)
"Jim Jones" - recorded by Bob Dylan on the album "Good As I Been To You":

Jim Jones

Come and listen for a moment lads, And hear me tell my tale
How across the seas from England I was condemned to sail
Oh, the jury found me guilty, lads, then says the judge, says he
"For life Jim Jones I'm sending you across that stormy sea
So take a trip before you ship to join the iron gang
Don't get too gay in 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"

Now our ship was sailing on the sea when pirates came along
But the soldiers on that convict ship they were full 500 strong
And they opened fire and soon they drove that pirate ship away
But I'd rather have joined that pirate ship than gone to Botany Bay
With the storms all raging round us and the wind a blowing gale
I'd rather have drowned in misery than gone to New South Wales
There's no time for mischief there, they say, "Remember that," says they
For they'll flog the flesh right off your bones down there in Botany Bay

Now it's day and night the irons clang, and like poor galley slaves
We toil and toil and when we die must fill dishonoured graves
But it's by and by I'll slip my chains, into the bush I'll go
And I'll join the brave bush rangers there, Jack Donohue and all
And some dark night when all is still and silent in the town
I'll shoot those tyrants one by one, I'll gun the floggers down
Yes, I'll give the lot a little shot, remember what I say
And they'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay

The words vary a bit here and there, but that's basically it, and that's how I sing it these days...great song!