In early 1819 on Britain's gallant shores The people all were suffering after many bloody wars There wasn't much employment and life was hard and grim But down in the cape they were short of men so they sent civilians in There's trouble in the colony, our soldiers cannot cope We'll send a band of settlers in, that is our only hope We'll offer them a future and a hundred acres of ground In all of Britain in these hard times, I'm sure the men can be found. You gentlemen of Britain, I'll have you gather near The grandest Proclamation you quickly shall hear The govermment are asking for men both brave and true If you sail away to the cape in the South, there's 100 acres for you Now ninety thousand people soon answered to the call "Alas," cried the government, "We cannot send you all. There's room for but five thousand, men women and children, too The lofty ships lie waiting in dock for they are to transport you." There's carpenters and blacksmiths and silversmiths as well There's officers and soldiers just freshly out of hell From Ireland,Wales and Scotland and England they came Tailors, clockmakers, journeymen, farmers, professional men were game. We'll leave behind our homelands our families and friends We're bound to settle in that land where Africa does end We're brave and gallant heroes, we'll do the best that we can We'll raise the flag of the red white and blue and we'll prosper in that land. per kind permission of Miriam Erasmus. This song is off her "Over Africa" album.
Please help towards my time and effort in maintaining this website. Every £, $, € and Rand helps!
|
Many Thanks, Paul |
This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 14.0.2, written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2023.
Maintained by Paul Tanner-Tremaine. | Data Protection Policy, Terms of Use and Disclaimers.