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Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men

28 Dec 02 - 11:34 AM (#854547)
Subject: Lyr Add: BOTANY BAY (Masterless Men)
From: Tiger

This was requested recently.

I found it some time ago while searching for other Botany Bay versions. I've heard it only by Masterless Men, for which I have the MP3 - you can also probably find that on the web. It's a great song, very up-tempo. I can't find the lyrics on the web, and have no idea of authorship.

It's a keeper, though.

Botany Bay — Masterless Men


My ship, she sails in the morning
For half a world away.
So, raise your glasses just once more,
Ye friends of yesterday.
We've laughed, we've cried, but side by side,
We've lived on, day to day,
And I wonder are there friends like you,
On the shores of Botany Bay?

        CHORUS
        Farewell, you little narrow streets,
        I wandered as a child.
        Farewell, you kindly neighbors,
        I used to drive you wild.
        I'm bound for South Australia,
        The land of great renown.
        Have a drink today, before I'll say,
        Farwell to my native town.

The doors were never bolted,
And the hearth it shon' like steel
The kettle always boilin',
And the welcome you can feel.
Well, there was bread upon the table,
And whiskey in the tay,
And I wonder are there friends like you,
On the shores of Botany Bay?

        CHORUS

The mem'ries flow, but I must go,
Good neighbors, take my hand.
It's not for want of comrades,
I leave my native land.
We've laughed and sang, the rafters rang,
Sure as in my Spring day,
And I'll shed a tear every mile from here,
To the shores of Botany Bay.

        CHORUS

        Have a drink today, before I'll say,
        Farwell to my native town.

28 Dec 02 - 12:14 PM (#854566)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men
From: Malcolm Douglas

The request was at Lyr Req: Different version of Botany Bay.

There's some sort of sound sample at http://juke.cfog.net/play.jsp?song=1508, but I can't get it to play. You can also request it at http://www.celticradio.net/; you may have to queue for a while, though, and it only seems to work in Internet Explorer.

The song seems on the face of it to be a modern one, so probably in copyright and not related to any other song called Botany Bay. At least one of our Newfoundland members must have a record by these people, surely?

30 Dec 02 - 07:20 AM (#855174)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men
From: Tiger

I've posted the Masterless Men .MP3 (about 3 MB) on my website at:

I can leave it there for a while (weeks) but, after that, I will remove it. Anyone following this link after 2/1/2003 should expect it to be unresolved.

30 Dec 02 - 03:41 PM (#855457)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men
From: Cluin

I have the CD "Ode to Age" (1993) by The Masterless Men. It has Botany Bay on it and gives writing credit to "COP CON.", whatever that is...

Pretty good CD anyway.

There is a mailing address:

The Masterless Men
1 Collins Place
Mount Pearl, Newfoundland
A1N 1E5

...though the CD is about 10 years old, not sure if it is current.

08 Oct 10 - 09:22 PM (#3002966)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men
From: GUEST

Im jsut curious but do have any chords?

21 Dec 10 - 08:49 PM (#3059014)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men
From: GUEST

can anyone post the chords? I really want to know this song!!

27 Dec 10 - 08:54 PM (#3062287)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Botany Bay (another) - Masterless Men
From: Jim Dixon

You can hear the song at YouTube.