Jim Jones

Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)

Bob Dylan's Garage Studio, Malibu, CA - late july -- early august 1992  
Supper Club Recordings, NYC - 17.nov.1993 late show  

Come an' listen for a moment, lads, and hear me tell my tale
How across the sea from England, i was condemned to sail
For the jury found me guilty, then says the judge, says he
"Oh for life Jim Jones I'm sendin' you across the stormy sea
But take a tip before you ship to join the iron gang
Don't get too gay in Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang
Or else you'll surely hang", says he, "and after that Jim Jones
It's high up upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones."

Well our ship was high upon the sea when pirates came along
But the soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong
For they opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away
But I'd rather have joined that pirate ship than gone to Botany bay
With the storms ragin' 'round us and the winds a-blowin' gales
I'd rather have drowned in misery than gone to New South Wales
"There's no time for mischief there", they say, "remember that", says they
For they'll flog the poachin' out of you down there in Botany Bay.

Now each day an' night the irons clang and like poor galley slaves
We toil and toil an' when we die must fill dishonored grave
For it's by and by I'll strip my chains an' to the bush I'll go
An' i'll join the brave bush rankers there, Jack Donahoe an' co
An' some dark night when everything is silent in the town
I'll shoot those tyrants one an' all, i'll gun the floggers down
Oh I'll give the law a little shock, remember what I say
And they'll yet regret they've sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay.