Botany Bay by William Meyer Lutz recalls the British colony where Undesirables of the Crown were sent to “start a new life.” It was popular in London musicals in the latter part of the 19th century, though it may have been written before that time.
Farewell to old England forever / Farewell to my rum culls as well
Farewell to the well known Old Bailey / Where I used for to cut such a swell
Singing Tooral liooral liaddity / Singing Tooral liooral liay
Singing Tooral liooral liaddity / And we’re bound for Botany Bay
There’s the captain as is our commander / There’s the bosun and all the ship’s crew
There’s the first and the second class passengers / Knows what we poor convicts go through
Taint leaving old England we cares about / Taint cos we mis-spells what we knows
But because all we light fingered gentry / Hops around with a log on our toes
These seven long years I’ve been serving now / And seven long more have to stay
All for bashing a bloke down our alley / And taking his ticker away
Oh had I the wings of a turtle dove / I’d soar on my pinions so high
Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love / And in her sweet presence I’d die
Now all my young Dookies and Dutchesses / Take warning from what I’ve to say
Mind all is your own as you toucheses / Or you’ll find us in Botany Bay.
|
Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment/instrumental score(s), if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.
Find Larry and Carla on Facebook!
