Page 7 - eMuse Vol.9 No.01_Classical

The Scarborough

Settlers

You sent me the dregs of society’s jails and the poor who had
fallen astray,
unfortunates, criminals, luckless accused against whom a mis-
taken charge lay.
You sent me your seekers of fortune and fame and the dreamers
who longed to find gold,
adventurers, preachers, and brave pioneers who were cocky,
laconic and bold.
Convict ship the Scarborough By Thomas Gilbert 1788.
I needed strong souls who had passion and grit, for my land is not
easy to tame— They stole me from my family
if settlers were coming, I wanted ambition to burn in each breast I only thought to see
like a flame! Standing shackled in the docks
They had to be sculpted and honed in my furnace of challenging That’s what jury see
hardship and heat; The Judge said I was pitiful
if any were feeble, reluctant or hopeless, I trampled them under A sorry case indeed
my feet. I could think about my future in Australia.

They came in great numbers; I took them to heart and revealed I made a trip to London
my abundant resource, I am a banker’s son
yet tried them impassively, sifted the chaff as I offered them little Born to a life of privilege
recourse. A young man out for fun
I watched their response as they triumphed or fell in the face of I didn’t mean to kill the man
each difficult test, My God what have I done?
and some became worthy, while others were greedy and cruel, or I could cheat the Newgate gallows in Australia.
misguided at best. Chorus: Heave away! Into the lines we go!
But those who remained were a resolute breed who were shaped Haul Away! We’re bound for Sydney Cove.
in the core of my fire, For many month’s the Scarborough
from convicts to gentlemen, all in possession of drive, aspirations, will be our heath and home
desire; Sailing for Australia.
inventive, intelligent, patient, courageous, with shrewdness and My father is a soldier, a captain of marines
natural wit— promotions and a posting
not perfect, but trustworthy, friendly yet tough, with a nature an answer to his dreams
refusing to quit. Four years at sea, Antipodes
This mixed bag of characters shared in the wealth of my nation a world away it seems
from bushland to sea— Its a long way from the family in Australia.
the mountains and deserts, majestic escarpments and ancient, Chorus:
distinct mystery; Across the savage ocean her battered body rolls
my rainforests, ribbons of sandy white beaches, deep gorges that The hold is flat with prisoners
swallow the sky, Loss of poor damn souls
astonishing creatures and rare vegetation—a splendour that none Incredible a living hell for those all crammed below
can deny. What kind of fellows makes it in Australia?
You sent me your dregs and the righteous alike, an assorted un- Chorus:
shakeable breed,
with purpose that nothing I threw in their way could apparently What drives a man to kill a man?
daunt or impede. To rise against his mates
They came with a vision, whatever the cause—I confronted them Leave his friends and family
time and again— and gamble with his fate
but they answered my call and I moulded them all into truly To trample men with pirate boots
exceptional men. and fettle bind in hate
To try out for the heart aches in Australia?
So stand up in unity, raise my flag high with a posture of pride and
respect, Chorus:
and honour your history, taking a moment to silently pause and Republished from
reflect. “Murphy’s Pigs —Live in Concert at the Triffid”
Salute your uniqueness—remember those brave pioneers who by kind permisssion of the writer
first carved out the way— John Graham
and celebrate all this great nation embodies, on every Australia Lead Vocalist
Day. Murphy’s Pigs merchadise from
© Catherine Lee www.murphyspigs.com

January 2020 eMuse 7