accordion, shanty

I found this song in the book "Shanties of the Seven Seas", collected by Stan Hugill

Botany Bay was the place in Australia where Britain established a penal colony. It was in fact right around 10,000 miles away from London, give or take a few. The song doesn't say what crime the narrator's True Love was convicted of, in order to be exiled there. So we'll just have to use our imaginations.

Last modified Sept. 21, 2026, 9:16 a.m..