[Verse 1]
Oh [G]listen for a moment lads and [Am]hear me tell my [Em]tale
How [C]o'er the sea from [G]England's shore I [Am]was condemned to [Em]sail
The j[C]jury found me [G]guilty sir and t[Am]then the judge said [Em]he
For [Am]life Jim Jones I se[Em]ntence you ac[Am]ross the stormy s[Em]ea
[Verse 2]
take[G] my tip before you ship to join[Am] the iron gang[Em]
Don't [C]be too gay at [G]Botany Bay or [Am]else you'll surely [Em]hang
Or [C]else you'll surely [G]hang says he and [Am]after that Jim [Em]Jones
high [Am]upon the gallo[Em]ws tree the crows[Am] will pick your bones[Em]
[Verse 3]
You'll [G]have no chance for mischief there re[Am]remember what I s[Em]say
They'll [C]flog the poaching [G]out of you out [Am]there at Botany [Em]Bay
The [C]waves were high up[G]upon the sea the [Am]wind approaching[Em]approaching gales
I'd [Am]rather drowned in mise[Em]misery than come to [Am]New South Wales[Em]Wales
[Verse 4]
The [G]winds were high upon the sea when the [Am]pirates came alo[Em]along
But the[C]the soldiers on our [G]convict ship were [Am]full five hundred [Em]strong
They [C]opened fire and [G]somehow drove that [Am]pirate ship a[Em]away
I'd [Am]rather joined that [Em]pirate ship than [Am]gone to Botany B[Em]Bay
[Verse 5]
For [G]night and day the irons clang and [Am]like poor galley [Em]slaves
We [C]toil and toil and w[G]hen we die must f[Am]ill dishonored gr[Em]aves
But[C]But by and by I'll brea[G]break my chains into [Am]the bush I'll go[Em]
And [Am]join the bold bushr[Em]bushrangers there Jack [Am]Donahoo and [Em]Co
[Verse 6]
And [G]some dark night when everything is [Am]silent in this t[Em]town
I'll[C] kill the tyrants o[G]ne by one and s[Am]hoot the floggers [Em]down
I'll[C]I'll give the law a [G]little shock rem[Am]ember what I sa[Em]y
They'll[Am] yet regret they s[Em]ent Jim Jones in c[Am]hains to Botany[Em] Bay
[alternative verses 5 and 6]
[G]And one dark night when everyth[Am]everything is quiet i[Em]in the town,
I'll k[C]ill you bastar[G]ds one and all,[Am] I'll gun the flogg[Em]ers down.
I'l[C]l give them all a l[G]ittle shock, rememb[Am]er what I say [Em]
They'[Am]ll yet regre[Em]t they sent Jim Jon[Am]es in chains to Botan[Em]y Bay.
[G]Now day and night in irons clad[Am]clad we like poor [Em]galley slaves
Toil a[C]and toil and wh[G]when we die must [Am]fill dishonored gra[Em]ves
By [C]and by I'll break m[G]m' chains and to the[Am]the bush I'll go [Em]
And y[Am]you'll be dea[Em]dead behind me, John, [Am]when I get to Mexico.[Em]