Intro: Em Verse 1: G Am Em Oh listen for a moment lads and hear me tell my tale C G Am Em How o'er the sea from England's shore I was compelled to sail C G Am Em The jury says he guilty sir and the hanging judge says he Am Em Am Em For life Jim Jones I'm sending you across the stormy sea
Verse 2: G Am Em And take my tip before you ship to join the iron gang C G Am Em Don't be too gay at Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang C G Am Em Or else you'll surely hang he says and after that Jim Jones Am Em Am Em It's high upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones Verse 3: G Am Em You'll have no chance for mischief there remember what I say C G Am Em They'll flog the poaching out of you out there at Botany Bay C G Am Em The waves were high upon the sea the wind blew up in gales Am Em Am Em I'd rather have drowned in misery than come to New South Wales Verse 4: G Am Em The winds blew high upon the sea and the pirates came along C G Am Em But the soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong C G Am Em They opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away Am Em Am Em I'd rather joined that pirate ship than come to Botany Bay Verse 5: G Am Em For night and day the irons clang and like poor galley slaves C G Am Em We toil and toil and when we die must fill dishonored graves C G Am Em But bye and bye I'll break my chains into the bush I'll go Am Em Am Em And join the bold bushrangers there Jack Donahoo and Co Verse 6: G Am Em And some dark night when everything is silent in this town C G Am Em I'll kill the tyrants one by one and shoot the floggers down C G Am Em I'll give the law a little shock remember what I say Am Em Am Em They'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay