The Shores of Botany Bay

I'm on my way down to the quay
Where the big ship at anchor lays
To command a gang of navvys
I was told to engage
I thought I'd drop in for a drink
Before I went away
For to take a trip on an emigrant ship
To the shores of Botany Bay

Farewell to your bricks and mortar
Farewell to your dirty lime
Farewell to your gangway and your gang plank
To hell with your overtime
For the good ship Ragamuffin
Is lying at the quay
For to take old Pat with a shovel on his back
To the shores of Botany Bay

The boss came up this morning
He says "Well, Pat you know
If you didn't get your navvys out
I'm afraid you'll have to go"
So I asked him for my wages
I demanded all my pay
And I told him straight I was going to emigrate
To the shores of Botany Bay

And when I reach Australia
I'll go and I'll look for gold
There's plenty there for digging up
Or so I have been told
Or else I'll go back to my trade
Eight hundred bricks I'll lay
And eight bob I'll lift for an eight-hour shift
On the shores of Botany Bay