Lyr Req: Norwich Gaol (Peter Bellamy)

Subject: Lyr Req: Norwich Gaol
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 09:30 PM

I've been trying to get the lyrics to "Norwich Gaol", from songs of "The Transports", by Peter Bellamy. Have been able to figure out some of the words by listening to a recording (which unfortunately doesn't have the lyrics with it). Part of it you can hear at Norwich Gaol
Does anyone have the rest of the lyrics?


Chorus:
So early in the morning the turn-key rings his bell
So early in the morning ----???????----
So early in the morning when the night begins to fail
We wonder if we'll ever see the last of Norwich Gaol.

First verse:

The food is foul, the air is bad, the company unchoice.
'Twould make you (?scowl?) to hear that mad old turn-key's raspy voice.
'Twould make you wonder if you'd ever live to tell the tale
Of the hardships and the miseries you found in Norwich Gaol.

Subject: Lyr Add: NORWICH GAOL (Peter Bellamy)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 02:47 AM

the words are in the 25th Anniversary Box set, 2004

Peter Bellamy's The Transports
The full story of eh First Fleet of convicts transported to Australia, 1787-88, and of the classic Ballad Opera that it inspired.

Free Reed Records & Music, The Ceders, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1DD, UK

The Transports

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NORWICH GAOL - Peter Bellamy

CHORUS -
So early in the morning the turnkey rings the bell
So early in the morning we wish his soul to Hell
So early in the morning when the night begins to pale
We wonder will we ever see the last of Norwich Gaol.


The food is foul, the air is bad, the company not choice
'twould make you scowl to hear that mad old turnkey's rasping voice
'twould make you wonder would you ever live to tell the tale
Of the hardships and the miseries you've known in Norwich Gaol.

CHORUS

Our water here is scummy-green, our beds is heaps of straw
There's water running down the walls, rats running o'er the floor
There's nought to eat but rotten meat that'd make a dog turn pale
Yes, it's dainty board-and-lodging when you visit Norwich Gaol!

CHORUS

When e're we fancy bathing, we paddles in the drains
And when we want a concert, we rattles of our chains
And when we want a banquet, we drink sludge and call it ale
If you want a good time, commit a crime and come to Norwich Gaol

CHORUS

Now if you fancy gaming here, the race is run by fleas
The stakes is perilously high: a crust, or mouldy cheese;
The first time taht I tried me luck, I nearly lost me shirt
But lucky for me the couldn't see the bugger for the dirt!

CHORUS

If they'd sent us to Amerikay today we would be free
But since their revolution that land we'll never see
We are not ro New England's shore three thousand miles away
For they say we're bound for some further ground, and they name it Botany Bay.

CHORUS

Perhaps it's out by India or maybe near Japan
Just off the coast of Canada, or in the hills of Spain
But wherever that strange land may be, we know it cannot fail
To be a far, far better place than stinking Norwich Gaol!

CHORUS

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