I’m leaving old England, the land that I love
I’m bound far across the sea
I’m bound for Australia, the land of the free
Where there’ll be a welcome for me
[Chorus]
So fill up your glasses and drink what yous please
For whatever’s the damage I’ll pay
And go easy and free, while you’re drinking with me
Sure I’m a man yous don’t meet everyday
When I board my ship, for the south’ard to go
She’ll be looking so neat and so fine
And as I land aboard with me bags and me stores
From the dockside they’ll cast every line
[Chorus]
To the Landsend we’ll tow with the crew all so tight
Wave a hearty goodbye to the shore
We’ll drink a last drop to England’s green land
And the next day we’ll curse our heads sore
[Chorus]
We’ll cast off the tug and sheet home topsails tight
And the crew will crowd sail upon sail
And with the wind blowing strong, we will just roll along
And by morning many jibs will turn pale
[Chorus]
We’ll beat past the oceans and down to the bay
Where the west wind it blows fine and strong
We’ll soon get the trades and we should make good time
To the Southard we’ll then roll along
[Chorus]
We’ll then round the cape with our flying kites in
And the forties will sure try their best
And we’ll run down our eas with our yards all set square
And the wind roaring out of the west
[Chorus]
We’ll then pass Cape Lewin all shipshape and trim
And head up to Adelaide port
On the semaphore roads we’ll then drop our hook
And ashore boys we’ll head for some sport
[Chorus]
When I’ve worked in Australia for twenty long years
One day I’ll head homeward bound
With a nice little nest egg tucked under me wing
With a steamer I’ll travel, I’m bound
[Chorus]
Oh, it’s goodbye to Sally and goodbye to Sue
When I’m leaving Australia so free
Where the girls are so kind, but the one left behind
Is the one that’ll one day splice me
[Chorus]