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Norwich Gaol Lyrics by Peter Bellamy

The Transports

1977

[Chorus 1]
So early in the morning, the turnkey rings his bell
So early in the morning, we wish his soul to hell
So early in the morning when the night begins to pale
We wonder, will we ever see the last of Norwich Gaol?
[Verse 1]
The food is foul, the air is bad, the company not choice
'Twould make you scowl to hear that mad old turnkey's rasping voice
'Twould make you wonder, would you ever live to tell the tale
Of the hardships and the miseries you've known in Norwich Gaol?
[Verse 2]
Our water here is scummy green, our beds is heaps of straw
There's water running down the walls, rats running o'er the floor
There's naught to eat but rotten meat that'd make a dog turn pale
Yes, it's dainty board and lodging when you visit Norwich Gaol
[Chorus 1]
So early in the morning, the turnkey rings his bell
So early in the morning, we wish his soul to hell
So early in the morning when the night begins to pale
We wonder, will we ever see the last of Norwich Gaol?
[Verse 3]
Whene'er we fancy bathing, we paddles in the drains
And when we want a concert, we rattles of our chains
And when we want a banquet, we drink sludge and call it "ale"
If you want a good time, commit a crime and come to Norwich Gaol
[Verse 4]
Now if you fancy gaming here, the race is run by fleas
The stakes are perilously high: a crust of moldy cheese
The first time that I tried my luck, I nearly lost my shirt
But lucky for me, they couldn't see the bugger for the dirt
[Chorus 1]
So early in the morning, the turnkey rings his bell
So early in the morning, we wish his soul to hell
So early in the morning when the night begins to pale
We wonder, will we ever see the last of Norwich Gaol?
[Verse 5]
If they'd sent us to Americay, today we would be free
But since the Revolution, that land we'll never see
We are not for New England's shore three thousand mile away
They say we're bound for some further ground and they've named it "Botany Bay"
[Verse 6]
Well perhaps it's out by India, or maybe near Japan
Just off the coast of Canada, or in the hills of Spain
But wherever that strange land may be, we know it cannot fail
To be a far, far better place than stinking Norwich Gaol
[Chorus 2]
So early in the morning, the turnkey rings his bell
So early in the morning, we wish his soul to hell
So early in the morning when the night begins to pale
We long for the day when we'll sail away from stinking Norwich Gaol
Credits
Peter Bellamy

Peter Bellamy

About “Norwich Gaol” by Peter Bellamy

Read the complete lyrics to "Norwich Gaol" by Peter Bellamy from the album "The Transports" in 1977. 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 British Folk, Country, Folk.

"Norwich Gaol" is performed by Peter Bellamy. from the album "The Transports" in 1977 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 "Norwich Gaol", explore more songs by Peter Bellamy 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

"Norwich Gaol" is credited to Peter Bellamy. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Norwich Gaol" appears on "The Transports" in 1977.

Visit the Peter Bellamy artist page at /artist/peter-bellamy for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.