Sam Jenkins

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[Verse 1]

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My name it is Sam Jenkins I come from old Whitington Hill
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My people bow their heads down to the Lord of the manor still.
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I grew up mean and hungry, dirty and poor and sick
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I tried my best for not to steal, too afraid of the Van Diemen ships

[Verse 2]
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Well the only road to money it was the road to the army gates
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I took that road in ’45 with a gang of my Staffordshire mates
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We were shipped across to Ireland some rebellions for to quell
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Stationed North of Galway in a landscape that mirrored hell

[Verse 3]
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When we sailed into Galway before my head and pride
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I will never forget the skeletons with a crazed look in their eyes
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And their little children wailing as hunger ate them alive
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When I realised what I was doing there, with the shame I nearly died

[Verse 4]
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The food removal regiments, we were there to guard the food
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Being shipped each day to England while the starving they were subdued
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They said we needed the food more, for our hungry boys abroad
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And the Irish apes who farmed it they weren’t men in the eyes of the lord


[Verse 5]
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My dear friend Billy Cooper he couldn’t console himself
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From a cherry tree in the back field he was hanging by his belt
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In the 41st foot regiment, just north of Galway town
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I felt myself the servent of a devil in a crown.

[Verse 6]

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I disobeyed an order, I refused to shoot a man
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Now stripped of my gun and uniform
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I am bound for Van Diemen's land

[Verse 7]
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You rogues who rule Britannia
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May you burn in hell for good
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Us poor we do your dirty work
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Then you dine on our flesh and blood

[END]
All the lies, all of our lives
All the pain, abuse and shame
Tell the truth to the youth
And forgive, but never forget
Forgive, but never forget

All the lies, all of our lives
All the pain, tears like rain
Tell the truth to the youth
And forgive, but never forget
Forgive, but never forget