Story Behind The Song

First Fleet convict boats sailed from England to Boatany Bay, Sydney, Australia, in the 1780's, contributing to the pioneering of the sunny, southern continent

Song Description

At a British dockside, onlookers including family and friends are shocked to see young convicts confronting deportation

Lyrics

Women Cry, Wonder Why Gary Woods
?Neath the bright northern stars and a nearly full moon
Women cry, wonder why pipers play the sad tune
Convicts sigh their goodbye, no they won?t be back soon
We never will see them again
They?re heading ?way down where the convicts are sent
Where hot summer sun makes the toughest repent
They?re heading down South ?round the Cape of Good Hope
Women cry, wonder why, how their loved ones will cope
?Tis the price for a life of survival from crime
Women cry, wonder why as they hear church-bells chime
Convicts sigh their goodbye, no they won?t be back soon
We never will see them again
They?re heading ?way down where the convicts are sent
Where hot summer sun makes the toughest repent
They?re heading down South ?round the Cape of Good Hope
Women cry, wonder why, how their loved ones will cope
Just a lad, he?s not bad: George is all that I?ve got
Think of me, set him free and I promise he?ll not
Steal again, noble men, let him loose from your chain
Much less he, much more me suffers pain
They?re heading ?way down where the convicts are sent
Where hot summer sun makes the toughest repent
They?re heading down South ?round the Cape of Good Hope
Women cry, wonder why, how their loved ones will cope