3
They rank'd us up like horses and sold us out of hand.
They yolk'd us to ploughs my boys, to plough Van Dieman's Land.
The cottages we live in are built with clods of clay,
and rotten straw for bedding yet we dare not say nay,
around our cots a circling fire we slumber when we can,
and drive the wolves and tigers oft upon Van Diemans land
Oftimes when I do slumber, I have a pleasant dream,
With my sweet girl sitting near me close by a purling stream;
Thro' England I've been roaming with her at my command,
and wakened broken hearted upon Van Dieman's Land.
God bless our wives and families, likewise that happy shore,
That isle of great contentment, which we may see no more;
as for our wretched families, see them we seldom can,
There's twenty men for one woman upon Van Dieman's Land.
