Landed in Botany Bay

DESCRIPTION: "My dear girl I am landed in Botany Bay, Nevermore to thy arms to return, Tho' I like a negro do labour each day, Tis for thee I am mostly concerned." He is weary, his tears stain the page; he wishes he could die rather than be separated from her
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1964 (Anderson-FarewellToOldEngland); Anderson estimates his broadside is c. 1790
KEYWORDS: exile love separation transportation
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Anderson-FarewellToOldEngland, pp. 24-25, "Landed in Botany Bay" (1 text)
ADDITIONAL: Hugh Anderson, _Farewell to Judges and Juries: The Broadside Ballad and Convict Transportation to Australia, 1788-1868_, Red Rooster Press, 2000, p. 102, "Landed in Botany Bay" (1 text, with tune on p. 550)
Roud #V9223
NOTES [42 words]: Although this surely represents the attitude of many transportees, the number who could write letters was small, and the number who could express themselves in such a flowery way surely smaller still. I can't imagine this ever going into tradition. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.6
File: AnFa024

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