Ten Thousand Miles Away

Hugill says the song first appears to have been sung by street singers in Ireland in the early part of the 19th Century and under the name “Botany Bay” was a favourite song of the old London music halls. It later went to sea as a forebitter and was used at times as a capstan song.

Ten Thousand Miles Away

It’s ho! For a brave and a gallant ship
And a fair and a favouring breeze
With a bully crew and a captain too
To carry me over the seas
To carry me over the seas, me lads
To my true love far away
For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship
Ten thousand miles away
 
So 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 off on the bounding maine and I won’t be back again
For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship
Ten thousand miles away
 
My true love she was beautiful 
And my true love was young
Her eyes were like the diamond sprite
And silver was her tongue
And silver was her tongue me lads
as the big ship left the bay
As she said “Will you remember me
Ten thousand miles away?”
 
Now, dark and dismal was the day
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 me lads
As the big ship left sailed away
And I said that I’d be true to her
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 me lads
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’ll forget my beer
Or I’ll forget my beer me lads
Or the landlord's quarter pay
Before I forget my darling Meg
Ten thousand miles away