Ho! For a brave an' a galant ship An' a fast an' fav'rin' breeze, With a bully crew an' a captain too To carry me o'er the seas; To carry me o'er the seas, me boys, To me true love far away. For I'm takin' a trip on a government ship Ten thousand miles away. Then blow, ye winds hi ho! An' a-rovin' I will go. I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear the music play. I'm off the bounding main, And I won't be back again. For I'm on the move to me own true love Ten thousand miles away. My true love she was beautiful, My true love she was young. But she's taken a trip on a government ship Bound out to Botany Bay; Bound out to Botany Bay, m'boys, An' though she's far away, I'll never forget me own true love Ten thousand miles away! Then blow, ye winds hi ho! An' a-rovin' I will go. I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear the music play. I'm off the bounding main, And I won't be back again. For I'm on the move to me own true love Ten thousand miles away. It was a summer mornin', When I last had seen me Meg She'd a government band around each hand An' another one round her leg; An' another one round her leg, m'boys, As the big ship left the bay, "Adieu", said she, "remember me, Ten thousand miles away"! Then blow, ye winds hi ho! An' a-rovin' I will go. I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear the music play. I'm off the bounding main, And I won't be back again. For I'm on the move to me own true love Ten thousand miles away. I wish I was a boatswain bold Or a sailor without fear. I'd man a boat and away I'd float An' straight to me true love steer; An' straight to me true love steer, m'boys, Where the whales an' dolphin play. Where the whales an' sharks are havin' their larks Ten thousand miles away. Then blow, ye winds hi ho! An' a-rovin' I will go. I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear the music play. I'm off the bounding main, And I won't be back again. For I'm on the move to me own true love Ten thousand miles away. Then blow, ye winds hi ho! An' a-rovin' I will go. I'll stay no more on England's shore To hear the music play. I'm off the bounding main, And I won't be back again. For I'm on the move to me own true love Ten thousand miles away