lay down we ne'er may rise no more To meet our savage Governor upon Van Diemen's shore Every night when I lay down I wet my straw with tears While wind upon that horrid shore did whistle in our ears Those dreadful beasts upon that land around our cots do roar Most dismal is our doom upon Van Diemen's shore From "The Female Transport" (Roud V1284). Examples Botany Bay/Whitby Lad/Bound for Botany Boy/Adieu to Old England (Roud 261, Laws L16) This ballad was collected widely from singers in England. It was also published by broadside sellers under the title "The Transport's Farewell", and was known in the US, with altered text, by various titles including "The Boston Burglar", "Boston City", "Charlestown" and "The Louisville Burglar". The "Boston Burglar" variant made its way back across the Atlantic, and has been collected in Ireland, Scotland,(sometimes under the title "The Boston Smuggler", and England. Come all you young fellows take warning by me And never go midnight walking and shun bad company. And never go midnight walking or else you will rue the day While you will get transported and sent to Botany Bay. My character was taken and I was taken too, My parents tried to clear me but nothing could they do. It was at the Old Bailey sessions where the judge unto me did say, “Why the jury have found you guilty, young man, you must go to Botany Bay.” To see my aged father as he stood at the bar, Likewise my poor old mother a-tearing of her hair. A-tearing of her old grey locks, why she unto me did say “Why, oh son, oh son, what have you done to be sent to Botany Bay?” A-sailing down the river on the fourteenth day of May, There goes the ship of clever young men, they’re sorry, so they say. There goes the ship of clever young men, they are sorry I heard them say. It is for some crime that they’ve done in their time and they’re sent to Botany Bay. Now there is a girl in London, a girl I love so well, And if ever I gain my liberty, along with her I’ll dwell. If ever I gain my liberty, it’s along with her I’ll dwell, And I will shun bad company and be true to my love as well. As sung by Suffolk singer Jumbo Brightwell,