Botany Bay
This popular Australian folksong dates back to the convict days of early British settlement, when prisoners were transported by ship to Australia to serve out their sentence. Told from a convict's viewpoint, this typically rollicking tune has been given a more lyrical, and poignant treatment in this arrangement, and is sure to bring out the beauty of your choir.
Lyrics
Farewell to old England forever
Farewell to my rum culls as well
Farewell to the well known Old Bailey
Where I once used to cut such a swell
​
Singin' toorali oorali addity
Singin' toorali oorali-ay
Singin' toorali oorali addity
And we're bound for Botany Bay
​
There's the captain as is our commander
There's the bo's'n and all the ship's crew
There's the first and the second class passengers
Knows what we poor convicts go through
​
'Taint leavin' old England we cares about
'Taint 'cos we misspells what we knows
But because all we light-fingered gentry
Hops around with a log on our toes
​
Oh, had I the wings of a turtle dove
I'd soar on my pinions so high
Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love
And in her sweet presence I'd die
​
Traditional
tracks available to buy
Botany Bay
Piano Accompaniment
$2.00
Botany Bay SA
Soprano Teaching Track
(Soprano part with piano)
$2.00
Botany Bay SA
Alto Teaching Track
(Alto part with piano)
$2.00
Botany Bay SA
All Parts Teaching Track
(Soprano and Alto parts with piano)
$2.00
Botany Bay SSA
Soprano 1 Teaching Track
(Soprano 1 part with piano)
$2.00
Botany Bay SSA
Soprano 2 Teaching Track
(Soprano 2 part with piano)
$2.00
Botany Bay SSA
Alto Teaching Track
(Alto part with piano)
$2.00
Botany Bay SSA
All Parts Teaching Track
(Sop 1, Sop 2 and Alto parts with piano)
$2.00