Ten Thousand Miles Away Hugill says the song first appears to have been sung by street singers in Ireland in the early part of the 19th Century and under the name Botany Bay. It was a favourite song of the old London music halls. It later went to sea as a forebitter and was used at times as a capstan song. Version sung here is an up-tempo adaption for entertainment. Music by - Musical Blades Lyrics It's ho! For a brave and a gallant ship And a fair and a favouring breeze With a bully crew and a captain too To carry me over the seas To carry me over the seas, me lads To my true love far away For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. So blow, ye winds and blow and a-roving I will go I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear sweet music play For I'm off on the bounding maine and I won't be back again For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. My true love she was beautiful And my true love was young Her eyes were like the diamond sprite And silver was her tongue And silver was her tongue me lads as the big ship left the bay As she said "Will you remember me Ten thousand miles away?" So blow, ye winds and blow and a-roving I will go I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear sweet music play For I'm off on the bounding maine and I won't be back again For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. Now, dark and dismal was the day When last I saw my Meg She'd a Government band around each hand And another one round her leg Oh another one round her leg me lads As the big ship left sailed away And I said that I'd be true to her Ten thousand miles away. So blow, ye winds and blow and a-roving I will go I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear sweet music play For I'm off on the bounding maine and I won't be back again For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. I wish I was a bosun bold Or a sailor without fear I'd man a boat and away I'd float And straight for me true love steer And straight for me true love steer me lads Where the whales and dolphins play Where the whales and sharks are having their larks Ten thousand miles away. So blow, ye winds and blow and a-roving I will go I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear sweet music play For I'm off on the bounding maine and I won't be back again For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. Oh, the sun may shine through the London fog Or the river run quite clear Or the ocean brine turn into wine Or I'll forget my beer Or I'll forget my beer me lads Or the landlord's quarter pay Before I forget my darling Meg Ten thousand miles away. So blow, ye winds and blow and a-roving I will go I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear sweet music play For I'm off on the bounding maine and I won't be back again For I'm taking a trip on a Government ship Ten thousand miles away. MAIN MENU / NEXT SONG 
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