The voyage was long, damp and cold
We were tied together, thrown in the hold
Why we were there, we were scarcely told
But off to Van Diemen’s Land.

They said it was our soul to save
But what they needed was another slave
To work the mines to an early grave
In Van Diemen’s Land

Chorus
There isn’t a moment in any day
When I don’t dream of far away
I hope, I plan, I curse, I pray
To leave Van Diemen’s Land.

I met a man whose hair was white
That doesn’t mean he’d quit the fight
He had a plan to escape by night
From Van Diemen’s Land.

He said he needed to get a note
Back to England by any boat
I found a man
Who would take it by rote
From Van Diemen’s Land.

Chorus

Patience would control our fate
The mines were hard but harder to wait
At last there came the appointed date
To leave Van Diemen’s Land

By night we fled up to the coast
Pursued, but then just like a ghost
A ship appeared
We were luckier than most
To leave Van Diemen’s Land.

The crew said, captain, so glad you’re here
I found I joined a privateer
Now I’ll be lucky if I live out the year
Away from Van Diemen’s Land.

Chorus
There isn’t a moment in any day
When I don’t dream of far away
I hope, I plan, I curse, I pray
To find my homeland again.

©2021 Craig Hansen