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Jim Jones at Botany Bay Lyrics by Gary Shearston

Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia

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

Gary Shearston

About “Jim Jones at Botany Bay” by Gary Shearston

Read the complete lyrics to "Jim Jones at Botany Bay" by Gary Shearston from the album "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia". 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 Country.

"Jim Jones at Botany Bay" is performed by Gary Shearston. from the album "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" 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 "Jim Jones at Botany Bay", explore more songs by Gary Shearston 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

"Jim Jones at Botany Bay" is credited to Gary Shearston. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Jim Jones at Botany Bay" appears on "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia".

Visit the Gary Shearston artist page at /artist/gary-shearston for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.