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The Ballad of the Catalpa

from Crossing the Line by Forty Degrees South

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    Songs of the southern oceans - 22 tracks

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about

This ballad, telling of the intrepid rescue of six Irish prisoners from Fremantle Gaol by an American ship in the guise of a whaler, was collected by Russel Ward from Victor Courtney, for many years editor of the Perth Sunday Times. As a young reporter Courtney heard the Catalpa in a Fremantle waterside pub sung (perhaps at the risk of gaol time for sedition) to the ‘Botany Bay’ tune. Other tunes are ‘Tarpaulin Jacket’ and, more commonly, to ‘Rosin the Bow’.

lyrics

A noble whale ship and commander
Called the Catalpa, they say
Came out to Western Australia
And took six poor Fenians away

Chorus:
So – come all you screws, warders and jailers
Remember Perth Regatta Day
Take care of the rest of your Fenians
Or the Yankees will steal them away

Seven long years had they served here
And seven long more had to stay
For defending their country, Old Ireland
For that, they were banished away

You kept them in Western Australia
Till their hair it began to turn grey
When a Yank from the States of America
Came out here and stole them away

Now all the Perth boats were a-racing
And making short tacks for the spot
But the Yankee tacked into Fremantle
And took the best prize of the lot

The Georgette, well-armed with bold warriors,
Went out the poor Yanks to arrest
But she hoisted her star-spangled banner
Saying you will not board me, I guess.

So remember those Fenians colonial
And sing o’er these verses with skill
Remember the Yankee that stole them
And the home that they left on the hill

Now they’ve landed safe in America
And there will be able to cry
“Hoist up the green flag and the shamrock
Hurrah for old Ireland we’ll die.”

credits

from Crossing the Line, released July 9, 2021
Trad. c.1876
Tune ‘Botany Bay’

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Forty Degrees South Sydney, Australia

A Sydney folk group known from 1988 for their powerful impact when singing unaccompanied traditional songs.

Strong individual singers, the interplay of their combined voices makes for a distinctive sound.

Sea shanties and other songs of maritime and industrial history and union songs feature large in their repertoire, songs with a robust quality that tell of real people, their lives and work. ... more

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