Listen for a moment lads And hear me tell my tale How over sea from England shore I was condemned to sail The jury found me guilty sir And said the judge, said he \"For life, Jim Jones, I'll sentence you Across the stormy sea I take my tip before you ship To join the iron gang Don't be too gay in Botany Bay Or else you'll surely hang Or else you'll surely hang,\" says he \"And after that, Jim Jones High upon the gallows tree The crows will pick your bones\"
You have no chance for mischief then Remember what I say They'll flog the poaching out of you Down there in Botany Bay
The wind grow high upon the sea And some pirates came along But the soldiers on our convict ship They were five hundred strong They opened fire and somehow drove That pirate ship away I'd rather have joined that pirate ship Than come to Botany Bay
Now it's day and night and the irons clang And like poor galley slaves We toil and toil, and when we die We fill dishonored graves But by and by I'll break my chains Into the bush I'll go And join the bravest rankers there Like Donohue and co And some dark night, when everything Is silent in the town I'll kill those tyrants one by one And shoot the flogger down I'll give the land a little shock Remember what I say They'll yet regret they've sent Jim Jones In chains to Botany Bay