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Convict Ways Lyrics by Declan O’Rourke

Arrivals

2021

From the bells in England’s prison cells
In ’67 one last time
They filled up a southbound floating jail
And on its fateful passage it set sail
And aboard that vessel too did go
Some sixty Fenian boys
They were loaded on the Hougoumont
And led out amidst the cry:
[Chorus]
“Farewell to all the convict ways
To being slaves without the name of slaves
Farewell to all the convict ways
They’ll be the last we’ll see in irons and chains”
And with them as they sped the wild waves o’er
Bringing poеtry and news
With their spirits overhеad did soar
A sage and wild goose
And when around that final coast they’d steer
Into famed Freemantle Bay
It’s reported that all souls on board
Heard the wild waves and the wild winds say:
[Chorus]
“Farewell to all the convict ways
To being slaves without the name of slaves
Farewell to all the convict ways
They’ll be the last we’ll see in irons and chains”
But when one among them did escape
That barren jailer’s land
Those behind him he did not forsake
Nor would rest until each one had been saved
For he knew all men inside must feel
That burning to be free
And when any languished in a cage
Not a single one of them could say:
[Chorus]
"Farewell to all the convict ways
To being slaves without the name of slaves
Farewell to all the convict ways
They’ll be the last we’ll see in irons and chains"
Someday the men of this crude world will know
As John Boyle O’Reilly knew
That no man is free when free alone
No man is free when alone
That one soul in chains is all in chains
That one soul enslaved is all enslaved
And that all mankind is in the few
And when all the life that they have seen
And one hundred thousand days
When all people of the world are free
And when children ask us what is free
When old men must ask us what are slaves
And when women ask us what are chains
When the wild, wild goose is old and grey
And the golden egg of freedom’s lain
That is when we all can truly say
Then and only then:
[Chorus]
“Farewell to all the convict ways
To being slaves without the name of slaves
Farewell to all the convict ways
And farewell to life in irons and chains
And farewell to life in irons and chains”
Credits
Declan O’Rourke

Declan O’Rourke

About “Convict Ways” by Declan O’Rourke

Read the complete lyrics to "Convict Ways" by Declan O’Rourke from the album "Arrivals" in 2021. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Convict Ways" is performed by Declan O’Rourke. from the album "Arrivals" in 2021 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Convict Ways", explore more songs by Declan O’Rourke using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Convict Ways" is credited to Declan O’Rourke. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Convict Ways" appears on "Arrivals" in 2021.

Visit the Declan O’Rourke artist page at /artist/declan-orourke for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.