Van Diemens Land

D A G D A G D I am a girl from England, Susan Summers is me name A G D For fourteen years transported, was for taking of some game A G D As for us wretched females, we never see a man G A G A Though there's twenty to one woman on Van Diemen's Land A D A G D A G D There's poor Tom Brown from Nottingham, Jack Williams and poor Joe A G D They were all daring poachers as the country well does know A G D At night they were trap-ended by the keepers out of hand G A G A For fourteen years transported to Van Diemen's Land A D A G D A G D When we set sail from England, we landed in the bay A G D We had rotten straw for bedding, we dare not to say 'nay' A G D Our cots were fenced with wire, we slumber when we can G A G A To drive away the wolves upon Van Diemen's Land Em7 D G Come all you gallant poachers, give ear unto me song A G It is a bit of good advice, although it is not long Em7 D G Lay by your dog and snare, to you I do speak plain C G Em7 If you knew the hardships, you'd never poach again A G D The first day we landed upon that fatal shore A G D The planters they came flocking round, twenty score and more A G D They dragged the men like horses and sold them out of hand G A G A And yoked 'em to the plough all on Van Diemen's Land A D A G D A G D Sometimes when I'm sleeping, I have a pleasant dream A G D With me dear one I'm sitting down by some pearling stream A G D With me friends telling stories, around me they all stand G A G A But I wake up broken hearted on Van Diemen's Land Em7 D G Come all you gallant poachers, give ear unto me song A G It is a bit of good advice, although it is not long Em7 D G Lay by your dog and snare, to you I do speak plain C G Em7 If you knew the hardships, you'd never poach again A G D God bless our families, likewise that happy shore A G D That isle of sweet contentment, that we shall see no more A G D For a planter's bought me freedom, he's married me out of hand G A G A Good usage then I'll give him on Van Diemen's Land A D A G D