In 1803 we sailed out to sea Out from the sweet town of Derry For Australia bound if we didn't all drown And the marks of our fetters we carried.
In the rusty iron chains we cried for our wains And good women we left in sorrow. As the mainsails unfurled our curses we hurled On the English and thoughts of tomorrow.
At the mouth of the Foyle, bid farewell to the soil As down below decks we were lying O'Doherty screamed, woken out of a dream By a vision of bold Robert dying The sun burned cruel as we dished out the gruel Dan O'Connor was down with a fever Fifty rebels today bound for Botany Bay How many will meet their reciever
CHORUS: Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry. Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.
I cursed them to hell as our bow rode the swell. Our ship danced like a moth in the firelights. White horses rode high as the devil passed by Taking souls to Hades by twilight. Five weeks out to sea we were now forty-three we buried Our comrades each morning. In our own slime we were lost in a time. Endless night without dawning. CHORUS
Van Dieman's land is a hell for a man To end up his whole life in slavery. When the climate is raw and the gun makes the law. Neither wind nor rain cares for bravery. Twenty years have gone by and I've ended me bond And comrades' ghosts are behind me. A rebel I came and I'm still the same. On the cold winds of night you will find me CHORUS