Ten Thousand Miles Away

Sing ho! for a brave an' a gallant ship, An' a fast an' fav'rin' breeze, Wi' a bully crew an' a cap'n to To carry me over the seas; To carry me over the seas, me boys, To me true love far away, For I'm takin' a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. Chorus: Then blow, ye winds and blow! An' a-rovin' I will go. I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear sweet music play  For I'm on the move to me own true love Ten thousand miles away My true love wuz beautiful, An' my true love wuz gay, But she's taken a trip on a Government ship Bound out to Botany Bay, Bound out to Botany Bay, m'boys, An' though she's far away, I'll never forget me own true love, Ten thousand miles away!

Oh, it wuz a summer's mornin', When last I saw my Meg She'd a Government band around each hand An' another one round her leg Oh, another one round her leg, m'boys As the big ship left the bay, "Adieu," she sez, "remember me, Ten thousand miles away!"

I wish I wuz a bosun bold Or a sailor widout fear I'd man a boat and away I'd float An' straight for me true love steer; An' straight for me true love steer, m'boys Where the whales an' dolphins play, Where the whales an' sharks are havin' their larks Ten thousand miles away.

Oh, the sun may shine through the London fog Or the river run quite clear, Or the ocean brine turn into wine Or I forget my beer Or I forget my beer, m'boys Or the landlord's quarter-pay But I'll never forget me own true love Ten thousand miles away.


 * Other versions:
 * or "the fiddler play"
 * or "When I'm in Botany Bay"
 * or "even a bombardier"