C Dm Am
O listen for a moment, lads, and hear me tell me tale,
C Em Dm
How o’er the sea from England I was compelled to sail.
Am C Em G
The jury says “He’s guilty!” and says the judge, says he,
Dm Am Dm Am
“For life, Jim Jones, I’m sending you across the stormy sea.
And take my tip before you ship to join the iron gang.
Don’t be too gay at Botany Bay, or else you’ll surely hang.
Or else you’ll surely hang,” says he, “and after that, Jim Jones,
High up upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones.
“You’ll have no chance for mischief then, remember what I say.
They’ll flog the poaching out of you, out there at Botany Bay.
The waves were high upon the sea. The winds blew up in gales.
I would rather drown in misery than go to New South Wales.
The winds blew high upon the sea, and the pirates came along,
But the soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong.
They opened fire and somehow drone the pirate ship away.
I’d rather have joined the pirate ship than come to Botany Bay.
For day and night the irons clang, and, like poor galley- slaves,
We toil and toil and when we die must fill dishonoured graves.
But by and by I’ll break my chains; into the bush I’ll go,
And join the brave bushrangers there, Jack Donahue and co.
And some dark night when everything is silent in the town
I’ll kill the tyrants one and all. I’ll shoot the floggers down.
I’ll give the law a little shock. Remember what I say.
They’ll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay.