Appendix III

There are many versions of this song, but the oldest is the one below. It is sung to various tunes usually having in common only a resemblance to the sound of a knife scraping on a plate.

MORETON BAY

I am a native of the land of Erin,
And lately banished from that lovely shore;

I left behind my aged parents,
And the girl I did adore
.

In transient storms as I set sailing,
Like mariner bold my course did steer;

Sydney Harbour was my destination
That cursed place at length drew near.

I then joined banquet in congratulation
On my safe arrival from the briny sea;

But, Alas, Alas! I was mistaken
Twelve years transportation to Moreton Bay.

Early one morning, as I carelessly wandered,
By the Brisbane waters I chanced to stray;

I saw a prisoner sadly bewailing,
Whilst on the sunlit banks he lay
.

He said: “I’ve been a prisoner at Port Macquarie,
At Norfolk Island, and Emu Plains;

At Castle Hill and cursed Toongabbee—
At all those places I’ve worked in chains
,

But of all the places of condemnation,
In each penal station of New South Wales
,

To Moreton Bay I found no equal,
For excessive tyranny each day prevails
.

Early in the morning, as the day is dawning,
To trace from heaven the morning dew
,

Up we are started at a moment’s warning,
Our daily labour to renew.
Our overseers and superintendents

These tyrants’ orders we must obey,

Or else at the triangles our flesh is mangled
Such are our wages at Moreton Bay!

For three long years I’ve been beastly treated;
Heavy irons each day I wore;

My poor back from flogging has been lacerated,
And oftimes painted with crimson gore
.

Like the Egyptians and ancient Hebrews,
We were sorely oppressed by Logan’s yoke
,

Till kind Providence came to our assistance,
And gave this tyrant his fatal stroke
.

Yes, he was hurried from that place of bondage,
Where he thought he would gain renown;

But a native black, who lay in ambush,
Gave this monster his fatal wound
,

Fellow prisoners, be exhilarated;
Your former sufferings you will not mind,

For it’s when from bondage you are extricated,
You’ll leave such tyrants far behind!”