In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
Botany Bay
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Farewell to my old pals as well
Farewell to the well known Old Bailee
Where I once used to be such a swell
Where I once used to be such a swell.
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay.
There's the captain as is our commandeer,
There's bo'sun and all the ship's crew
There's first and the second class passengers,
Knows what we poor convicts goes through
Knows what we poor convicts goes through.
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay.
'Taint leaving Old England we cares about,
'Taint 'cos we mispells wot we knows
But becos all we light finger'd gentry
Hop's around with a log on our toes.
Hop's around with a log on our toes.
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay.
Oh had I the wings of a turtle-dove,
I'd soar on my pinions so high,
Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love,
And in her sweet presence I'd die
And in her sweet presence I'd die.
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay.
Now all my young Dookies and Duchesses,
Take warning from what I've to say,
Mind all is your own as you touch-es-es,
Or you'll find us in Botany Bay,
Or you'll find us in Botany Bay.
The Irish Rovers’ “Botany Bay” is a traditional folk song that recounts the journey of the singer and his fellow convicts as they are transported from Old England to Botany Bay, Australia. The song opens with the singer bidding farewell to England and his friends, acknowledging the loss of his former life but resigned to his fate. The chorus then kicks in with the catchy refrain, “Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,” a nonsense phrase that serves as a rhythmic punctuation mark throughout the song. The convicts are accompanied by a variety of crew members and passengers, including the captain, bo’sun, and first and second-class passengers who are “clued up” to the convicts' plight.
As they set sail for Botany Bay, the convicts reflect on their crimes and express their disillusionment with their former way of life. They’re not leaving England because they can’t spell or read, but because they’ve been caught stealing and are now hobbling around with a log on their feet in punishment. The final verse is a wistful lament, as the singer longs for the “sweet presence” of his love, Polly, and imagines soaring up to her on the wings of a turtle dove.
Overall, “Botany Bay” is a rollicking and bittersweet folk tune that captures the spirit of the transportation era, when thousands of convicts were shipped off to Australia and other colonies as punishment for their crimes. It’s a song that celebrates both the resilience and the regrets of the transported convicts, as they face an uncertain future in a new and unfamiliar land.
Line by Line Meaning
Farewell to Old England forever
Saying goodbye to England for good
Farewell to my old pals as well
Saying goodbye to old friends also
Farewell to the well known Old Bailee
Saying goodbye to the Old Bailee, a prison in London
Where I once used to be such a swell
Reminiscent of the time when the singer used to live comfortably
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty
A chorus sung by the convicts on their way to Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Stating the destination of the convicts
There's the captain as is our commandeer
The captain is in charge of the convicts on the ship
There's bo'sun and all the ship's crew
The bo'sun and other crew members on the ship
There's first and the second class passengers,
There are also first and second class passengers on board
Knows what we poor convicts goes through
The first and second class passengers understand the plight of the convicts
'Taint leaving Old England we cares about,
Leaving England is not the issue
'Taint 'cos we mispells wot we knows
It's not because of their lack of education
But becos all we light finger'd gentry
It's because they were thieves
Hop's around with a log on our toes.
Dragging chains on their feet
Oh had I the wings of a turtle-dove,
Wishing for the freedom of a bird
I'd soar on my pinions so high,
Flying high above the ship to escape
Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love,
Landing in the arms of a loved one named Polly
And in her sweet presence I'd die
Being content with dying in the arms of Polly
Now all my young Dookies and Duchesses,
A warning to young aristocrats
Take warning from what I've to say,
Listen to my words of caution
Mind all is your own as you touch-es-es,
Be careful when taking things that don't belong to you
Or you'll find us in Botany Bay,
Or else end up as convicts headed to Botany Bay
Contributed by Samuel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.