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Van Diemens Land

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[Verse 1]
  DmCome all ye gallant poacChers that ramblCe voiGd of Dmcare
That Dmwalked out on a moonlCight night with your doCg, your guDmn, your snareG  
The hare Dmand the lofty pCheasant, you have Cat youGr commDmand
Not thDminking on your lasCt career upoCn Van GDiemenDm's Land
[Verse 2]
 DmPoor Thomas Brown from NenaCgh Town, Jack MuCrphy and Gpoor JoeDm  
Were Dmthree determined poacChers, as the counCty well dDmoes knowG  
By the keDmepers of the lanCd, me boys, one nigCht they weGre trepDmanned
And foDmr fourteen years transpoCrted unto CVan GDiemen's DmLand
[Verse 3]
  DmThe first day that we lanCded upon Cthat fatGal shDmore
The pDmlanters came arouCnd us there miCght be twDmenty scoreG  
They rankDmed us off like horCses and they soCld us ouGt of hDmand
And thDmey yoked us to the plougCh, brave boys, to plCough Van GDiemen's DmLand
[Verse 4]
   DmThe cottages we livCe in are builCt with sodGs of cDmlay
We haDmve rotten straw for bCedding, but we darCe not Dmsay them nayG  
Our cots Dmwe fence with wiCre and we slumCber when Gwe canDm  
To keeDmp the wolves and tiCgers from uCs in Van GDiemen's LDmand
[Verse 5]
DmGod bless our wives and faCmilies, likewiCse that hapGpy shDmore,
DmThat isle of sweet conCtentment, whiCch we shaDmll see no moreG;
DmAs for the wretched feCmales, See theCm we selGdom can,Dm  
DmThere are fourteen men to eveCry woman In VCan DGiemen's LaDmnd.
[Verse 6]
  DmOft times when I do sluCmber, I havCe a pleaGsant drDmeam
With Dmmy sweetheart sitting neCar me, clCose by a pDmurling streamG  
I am roamDming through old IreCland with my truCe love bGy the handDm  
But awDmaken, broken hearCted, upoCn Van GDiemen's LaDmnd
[Verse 7]
  DmOh, if I had a thouCsand pounds, all Claid out iGn my handDm  
I'd gDmive it all for libCerty, if thaCt I couDmld commandG  
Again to DmIreland I'Cd return and I'd Cbe a haGppy manDm  
And I'Dmd bid farewell to poaCching anCd to Van GDiemen's LaDmnd
[Outro]
Dm

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

"Van Diemen's Land" tells a poignant story of hardship and longing, speaking for the "gallant poachers" who found themselves "transported unto Van Diemen's Land." The lyrics paint a picture of their lives, fencing their "cots with wire" and sleeping when they could, yearning to bid farewell to their past and to the distant land of their exile. It's a song steeped in the tradition of Irish folk music, a genre Daoirí Farrell has dedicated his life to, moving from his early days in the Góilín Singers Club to becoming an award-winning artist. Playing this tune channels a deep sense of resilience and the enduring human desire for home.

AI-written from these sources:Daoirí Farrell — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

Van Diemens Land

Van Diemens Land

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Van Diemens Land

by Daoiri Farrell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

Dm C C G Dm

Come all ye gallant poachers that ramble void of care

Dm C C Dm G

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

[Verse 2]

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C Dm G

Were three determined poachers, as the county well does know

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C G Dm

And for fourteen years transported unto Van Diemen's Land

[Verse 3]

Dm C C G Dm

The first day that we landed upon that fatal shore

Dm C C Dm G

The planters came around us there might be twenty score

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

[Verse 4]

Dm C C G Dm

The cottages we live in are built with sods of clay

Dm C C Dm G

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

[Verse 5]

Dm C C G Dm

God bless our wives and families, likewise that happy shore,

Dm C C Dm G

That isle of sweet contentment, which we shall see no more;

Dm C C G Dm

As for the wretched females, See them we seldom can,

Dm C C G Dm

There are fourteen men to every woman In Van Diemen's Land.

[Verse 6]

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C Dm G

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

[Verse 7]

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C Dm G

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

Dm C C G Dm

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

[Outro]

About Van Diemens Land Chords by Daoiri Farrell

Learn how to play Van Diemens Land by Daoiri Farrell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Van Diemens Land chords”, “Van Diemens Land guitar chords”, or “Daoiri Farrell 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 Dm, C, G.

FAQ — Van Diemens Land by Daoiri Farrell

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