I was a convict in another life. Perhaps I ended up on Norfolk due to my constant strife. Forget the pure and simple life with a loving salty wife I have ended up on Norfolk For the term Of my natural life Here is the story of a brief time In history There is no mystery A short life of strife A convict to Norfolk Island Treated cruel Forgiven Saved Freed Murdered A ball and chain is my companion Each and every day The shade of a mighty banyan standing in my way The hangman’s gallows noose To take away my precious breath Is Swinging high and loose For life short of death They give me a team of wild Bullocks Just landed from the ship Train them up they say And your ball and chains we’ll slip The bulls there’re just as stubborn As I was want to be I pulled them North to southern They just wanted to be free In time I came to love them The bullocks just like me Till both them and I we settled down The Norfolk way to see The superintendent gave his word He took the chains off me And for a time I came to live the Norfolk life as free I’d banged myse head and fought the screws For all the early years I’d had my share of lashes And had my share of tears From London Town at age 18 I’d struggled against the coppers Until they’d sent me to the place Where no return was offered Fifteen hundred cat-o-nines had laid across me shoulders I’d squirmed and fought with all my might Against old blighty soldiers But the bullocks had brought me all around And at last I’d found now I had my chance For a life of song and dance To head to Sydney town (Banjo solo) But life can take a twist and turn for one aged 23 And sometimes isn’t fair The alleyway I walked that night Was one that few would dare I didn’t see the robber strike He hit me hard with all his might I didn’t feel the blow Me life was brief I didn’t know Yet for a small while I lived a good life On Norfolk Isle Yet for a small while I lived a good life On Norfolk Isle Yet for a small while I lived a good life On Norfolk Isle Yet for a small while I lived a good life On Norfolk Isle
