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Van Diemens Land

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Aminor

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Barbara Dickson - Van Diemen's Land
CAPO: 3rd Fret
[INTRO:]   (**Didgeridoo**)
[VERSE 1:] 
Come Amall ye gallant FpoaGchers that Amramble void of Gcare
That Amwalked out on a Cmoonlight Dnight with your Fdog, your Ggun, your Amsnare 
The Chare and the lofty Gpheasant, you Amhave at your comGmand 
Not Amthinking on your Clast caDreer uFpon Van GDiemen's AmLand 
[VERSE 2:] 
Poor Thomas Brown from FNenagh GTown, Jack AmMurphy and poor GJoe
Were Amthree determined CpoachersD, as the Fcounty Gwell does Amknow
By the Ckeepers of the Gland, me boys, one Amnight they were treGpanned
And for Amfourteen years transCporDted unFto Van GDiemen's AmLandC  D  Am  Am7  Am  
[VERSE 3:] 
The first day that we FlanGded uAmpon that fatal Gshore
The Amplanters came aCround us Dthere Fmight be Gtwenty Amscore
They Cranked us off like Ghorses and they Amsold us out of Ghand
And they Amyoked us to the Cplough, brave Dboys, to Fplough Van GDiemen's AmLand
[VERSE 4:] 
The cottages we Flive in Gare Ambuilt with sods of Gclay
We have Amrotten straw for CbeddingD, but we Fdare not Gsay them Amnay
Our Ccots we fence with Gwire and we Amslumber when we Gcan
To Amkeep the wolves and CtiDgers from us Fin Van GDiemen's AmLandC  D  Am  Am7  Am  
[VERSE 5:] 
Oft times when I do FslumGber, I Amhave a pleasant Gdream
With my Amsweetheart sitting Cnear meD, close Fby a Gpurling Amstream
I am Croaming through old GIreland with my Amtrue love by the Ghand
But aAmwaken, broken ChearDted, uFpon Van GDiemen's AmLand
[VERSE 6:] 
Oh, if I had a Fthousand Gpounds, all Amlaid out in my Ghand
I'd Amgive it all for ClibertyD, if Fthat I Gcould comAmmand
ACgain to Ireland GI'd return and I'd Ambe a happy Gman
And I'd Ambid farewell to CpoaDching and Fto Van GDiemen's AmLandC  D  Am  Am7  Am  
[OUTRO:]   (## fade to end ##)
         Am

All chords in this song (6)

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Van Diemens Land

by Barbara Dickson

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 3 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

Barbara Dickson - Van Diemen's Land

CAPO: 3rd Fret

[INTRO:] (**Didgeridoo**)

[VERSE 1:]

Am F G Am G

Come all ye gallant poachers that ramble void of care

Am C D F G Am

That walked out on a moonlight night with your dog, your gun, your snare

C G Am G

The hare and the lofty pheasant, you have at your command

Am C D F G Am

Not thinking on your last career upon Van Diemen's Land

[VERSE 2:]

F G Am G

Poor Thomas Brown from Nenagh Town, Jack Murphy and poor Joe

Am C D F G Am

Were three determined poachers, as the county well does know

C G Am G

By the keepers of the land, me boys, one night they were trepanned

Am C D F G Am C D Am Am7 Am

And for fourteen years transported unto Van Diemen's Land

[VERSE 3:]

F G Am G

The first day that we landed upon that fatal shore

Am C D F G Am

The planters came around us there might be twenty score

C G Am G

They ranked us off like horses and they sold us out of hand

Am C D F G Am

And they yoked us to the plough, brave boys, to plough Van Diemen's Land

[VERSE 4:]

F G Am G

The cottages we live in are built with sods of clay

Am C D F G Am

We have rotten straw for bedding, but we dare not say them nay

C G Am G

Our cots we fence with wire and we slumber when we can

Am C D F G Am C D Am Am7 Am

To keep the wolves and tigers from us in Van Diemen's Land

[VERSE 5:]

F G Am G

Oft times when I do slumber, I have a pleasant dream

Am C D F G Am

With my sweetheart sitting near me, close by a purling stream

C G Am G

I am roaming through old Ireland with my true love by the hand

Am C D F G Am

But awaken, broken hearted, upon Van Diemen's Land

[VERSE 6:]

F G Am G

Oh, if I had a thousand pounds, all laid out in my hand

Am C D F G Am

I'd give it all for liberty, if that I could command

C G Am G

Again to Ireland I'd return and I'd be a happy man

Am C D F G Am C D Am Am7 Am

And I'd bid farewell to poaching and to Van Diemen's Land

[OUTRO:] (## fade to end ##)

About Van Diemens Land Chords by Barbara Dickson

Learn how to play Van Diemens Land by Barbara Dickson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Van Diemens Land chords”, “Van Diemens Land guitar chords”, or “Barbara Dickson Van Diemens Land chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Van Diemens Land chords and for experienced players who want accurate Van Diemens Land lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, F, G, C, D, Am7.

FAQ — Van Diemens Land by Barbara Dickson

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What key is "Van Diemens Land" in?

The chords for "Van Diemens Land" show the original chord names (including Am, F, G, C, D, Am7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.