Lyrics: traditional

Sing ho! for a brave and a gallant ship
And a fair and a favoring breeze
Wit’ a bully crew and a captain too
for To carry me over the seas
for To carry me over the seas, me boys
To my true love far away
for I’m takin’ a trip on a government ship
Ten thousand miles away

Then blow ye winds i-o
And a rovin’ I will go
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
to hear the music play
For I’m off on the morning train
Across the raging main
for I’m takin’ a trip on a government ship
Ten thousand miles away

My true love was beautiful
My true love was young
Her eyes were like a diamond bright
And silvery was her tongue
Silvery was her tongue, me boys
And though she’s far away
I’ll never forget my own true love
Ten thousand miles away

Then blow ye winds i-o
And a rovin’ I will go
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
to hear the music play
For I’m off on the morning train
Across the raging main
for I’m takin’ a trip on a government ship
Ten thousand miles away

It’s been at least a hundred days
Since I last saw me Meg
She had a government band around each hand
And another one round her leg
And another one round her leg, me boys
As the big ship left the bay
Farewell says she, remember me
Ten thousand miles away

Then blow ye winds i-o
And a rovin’ I will go
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
to hear the music play
For I’m off on the morning train
Across the raging main
for I’m takin’ a trip on a government ship
Ten thousand miles away

Oh, I wish I was a bosun bold
Or a sailor without fear
I’d man a boat and away I’d float
And straight to me true love steer
And straight to me true love steer, me boys
Where the dancing dolphins play
Where the whales and sharks are having their larks
Ten thousand miles away

Then blow ye winds i-o
And a rovin’ I will go
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
to hear the music play
For I’m off on the morning train
Across the raging main
for I’m takin’ a trip on a government ship
Ten thousand miles away

Well, the sun may shine through the London fog
Or the river run quite clear
Or the ocean brine turn into wine
Or I’ll forget me beer
Or I’ll forget me beer, me boys
On the landlord’s quarter-pay
But I’ll never part from my own sweetheart
When I’m in Botany Bay!

Then blow ye winds i-o
And a rovin’ I will go
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
To hear the music play
For I’m off on the morning train
And I won’t be back again
For I’m dreamin’ of my own true love
Then thousand miles away

I’m dreamin’ of my own true love
I’m bound for Botany Bay