“Those Poor Convicts”
Description
Consider the sentencing and departure of Irish convicts bound for "Vandiamonds Land": O'Reilly from Cavan, three Duffys and Bryan Seery in Mullingar. "Unto their prosecutors they never done a wrong." "Think upon those traitors that's swore our lives away"
Notes
Incongruously -- considering that these are supposedly innocent men -- this ballad shares lines with "The Edinburgh Convicts" and "Botany Bay" versions of "The Boston Burglar" [Laws L16]): "A warning take by me,I'd have you quit night walking,And shun bad company." - BS
Cross references
- cf. "Van Dieman's Land (I)" (tune)
References
- Zimmermann 53, "The Sorrowful Lamentation of Those Poor Convicts" (1 text, 1 tune)
- BI, Zimm053