Print This Page#00410 Print This Page
Click Here for guitar tabs.
Fare-well to old England for e-ver,
Fare-well to my rum culls as well;
Fare-well to the well known Old Bailee,
Where I used for to cut such a swell.
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ay;
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
And we're bound for Botany Bay.
There's the captain as is our commander,
There's the bo'sun and all the ship's crew;
There's the first and second class passengers,
Knows what we poor convicts go through.
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ay;
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
And we're bound for Botany Bay.
'Tain't leavin' old England we cares about,
'Tain't cos we mispels what we knows;
But becos all we light-fingered gentry,
Hops around with a log on our toes.
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ay;
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
And we're bound for Botany Bay.
For seven long years I'll be staying here,
For seven long years and a day;
For meeting a cove in an area,
And taking his ticker away.
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ay;
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
And we're bound for Botany Bay.
Oh, had I the wings of a turtle-dove,
I'd soar on my pinions so high;
Slap bang to tha arms of my Polly love,
And in her sweet presence I'd die.
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ay;
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
And we're bound for Botany Bay.
Now, all my young dookies and duchesses,
Take warning from what I've to say;
Mind all is your own as you touchesses,
Or you'll find us in Botany Bay.
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ay;
Singing, too-ral li-ooral li-ad-dity,
And we're bound for Botany Bay.
The YouTube video above features an excellent guitar performance by Travis Hatcher of Labrador and Nova Scotia.
From Princeton Word Net:
Pinion — flight feather: any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird.
From A Dictionary Of Slang and Unconventional English:
Cove — a man, a companion, chap, fellow, a rogue; the master or landlord of a house or shop.
Rum Culls — drinking companions.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Notes On Guitar Tabs:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent their interpretation of the tune. We are unable to verify their accuracy.
Briskly 3/4
Fare- [C] well to old [G7] England for [C] e-ver,
Fare- [C] well to my [F] rum culls as [G7] well;
Fare- [C] well to the [F] well known Old [C] Bailee,
Where I [C] used for to [G7] cut such a [C] swell.
