Bas In Eireann - Black 47

I stole some butter to put on my bread

A crime against God, king and parliament

No fancy lawyer to defend my case

So I was sentenced at the Mayo Assizes

Seven long years transportation

To Botany Bay in Australia

Is this the justice whereof you speak

Ten crucifying years ahead of me

And all that I asked for, all that I need

Is to live my life in my own country

All that I wanted or dear to me

Is bas in Erin, a chiusla geal mo chroí

I hid my brother to protect his life

He shot a man for collecting tithes

To support the rites of the English Church

A faith that meant not a damn to us

They hung my brother in Wexford town

And when they cut his body down

The hangman turned and called my way

You’ll long for me in Australia

I should have known what would become of me

The future’s always been there for all the world to see

The black death is approaching

I can see it on the way

Oh, I’m better off in hell or Australia