Gary Shearston

Jim Jones At Botany Bay

Gary Shearston


Tom: Am

A Am C Am

[Verse 1]
A   C                        Am       G           Am
    Oh listen for a moment, lads and hear me tell my tale
Am                            Dm                    Am
How over the sea from England's shore I was compelled to sail
  Am                          Dm                    Am
The jury said he's guilty sir and sir that judge said he
 Am                                  G               Am
For life Jim Jones I'm sending you across the stormy sea

[Bridge]

Am

[Verse 2]

C              Am              G                   Am
And take my tip before you ship to join the iron gang
Am                            Dm                    Am
Don't be too gay at Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang
  Am                          Dm                      Am
Or else you'll surely hang said he and after that Jim Jones
 Am                                  G               Am
High upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones

[Bridge]

Am

[Verse 3]
 Am                                  F                   Am
You'll have no chance for mischief there remember what I say
Am                                    G                    Am
They'll flog the poaching out of you down there at Botany Bay

[Bridge]

A Am C Am

[Verse 4]

  Am                                G                 Am
The wind blew high upon the sea and some pirates came along
Am                            Dm                    Am
But the soldiers on our convict ship they were five hundred strong
Am                                      D              Am
They opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away
    Am                               G                    Am
I'd rather had joined that buccaneer than come to Botany Bay

[Bridge]

Am

[Verse 5]
   Am                                 G                  Am
Now night and day our irons clang and like poor galley slaves
Am                            Dm                    Am
We toil and strive and when we die we fill dishonoured graves
  Am                          D                        Am
But bye and bye I'll break my chains into the bush I'll go
    Am                               G               Am
And join the brave bushrangers there like Donahoo and Co


[Verse 6]
  C                        Am       G           Am
And some dark night when everything is silent in the town
Am                            Dm                    Am
I'll kill the tyrants one by one and shoot the floggers down
Am                            Dm                 Am
I'll give the law a little shock remember what I say
    Am                               G               Am
They'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay