Sing ho for a brave and a gallant ship
And a fast and favoring breeze
With a bully crew and a captain to
To carry me over the seas
To carry me over the seas me boys
To my true love far away
For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship
Ten thousand miles away
Chorus after each verse
Then blow, ye winds and blow and a roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore
To hear sweet music play
For I'm on the move to me own true love
Ten thousand miles away
My true love was beautiful
And my true love was gay
But she's taken a trip on a Government ship
Bound out to Botany Bay
Bound out to Botany Bay my boys
And though she's far away
I'll never forget me own true love
Ten thousand miles away
Oh it was a summer's morning
When last I saw my Meg
She'd a Government band around each hand
And another one round her leg
Oh another one round her leg my boys
As the big ship left the bay
Adieu she says "remember me Ten thousand miles away"
I wish I was a bosun bold
Or a sailor without fear
I'd man a boat and away I'd float
And straight for me true love steer
And straight for me true love steer my boys
Where the whales and dolphins play
Where the whales and sharks are having their larks
Ten thousand miles away
Oh, the sun may shine through the London fog
Or the river run quite clear
Or the ocean brine turn into wine
Or I forget my beer Or I forget my beer my 'boys
Or the landlord's quarter pay
But I'll never forget me own true love
Ten thousand miles away
