Blow Ye Winds

Sarah Makem

Blow ye winds, hi ho
Aroving I will go
I’ll stay no more ’round England’s shore
So let the music play
I’ll be off on the morning train
To cross the stormy main
I’ll be on the move to my own true love
Three thousand miles away

Dark and stormy was the night
When first I met my Peg
She’d a government band around each hand
And another one ’round her leg
She’d another one ’round her leg, my boys
And as I sing, I pray
For she’s doing it grand in a distant land
Three thousand miles away

My love she is beautiful
My love she is young
My love she is beautiful
And silver sounds her tongue
Silver sounds her tongue, my boys
And as I sing, I pray
For she’s doing it grand in a distant land
Three thousand miles away

This is a transportation song, probably having originated among prisoners being transported to Australia or Van Diemen’s Land, where they were sent for having committed a variety of crimes – from stealing a loaf of bread to murder.