Van Dieman's Land

Van Dieman's Land is how the song title was originally spelt though the man after whom the Island of Tasmania was originally named is correctly spelt Van Diemen.

This song probably came originally from a Broadside in the early 19th century and it found its way into the oral tradition and has been found all over the British Isles. I first came across it in "101 Scottish Songs" Edited by Norman Buchan and he credits his source as Ord's Bothy Ballads.

The tune I sing here is the one used in 101 Scottish songs and is a 3/4 variant of Dives and Lazarus (or The Star of County Down - take your pick).

The accompaniment is simply a E-B drone on a Shruti Box

Lyrics

Come all ye gallant poachers that ramble void of care,
That walk out on a moonlight night, with your dog, your gun and snare;
The harmless hare and pheasant you have at your command,
Not thinking on your last career upon Van Dieman's land.

'Twas poor Tom Brown from Nottingham, Jack Williams and poor Joe,
We were three daring poachers, the country well did know;
At night we were trepanned by the keepers in the sand,
And for fourteen years transported to Van Dieman's land.

The first day that we landed upon this fatal shore
The planters that came round us, full twenty score or more,
They ranked us up like horses, and sold us out of hand,
And yoked us to the ploughs, my boys, to plough Van Dieman's land.

The houses that we dwell in here are built of clod and clay;
With rotten straw for bedding, we dare not say them nay;
Our cots are fenced with wire, and we slumber when we can,
And we fight the wolves and tigers which infest Van Dieman's land.

It's oft-times when I slumber I have a pleasant dream:
With a pretty girl I have been roving down by a sparkling stream;
In England I've been roving with my girl by my right hand,
But I wake up broken hearted upon Van Dieman's Land

For fourteen years is a long, long time. That is our fatal doom
For nothing else but poaching -- God knows that's all we've done
You would leave your dog, gun and snare, and poaching every man
If you knew the hardships that waited you upon Van Dieman's land.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Van Dieman's Land
• Folk
• Song
• Shruti Box
• Mudcat
• Folk music
• Traditional Song
• Broadside Ballad