[Verse]
In 1803, we sailed out to sea,
Out from the sweet town of Derry,
For Australia bound if we didn't all drown,
And the marks of our fetters we carried,
In our rusty iron chains, we cried for our weans,
Our good women we left in sorrow,
As the mainsail unfurled, curses we hurled,
At the English and the thoughts of tomorrow.

[Chorus]
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry,
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry.

[Verse]
At the mouth of the Foyle, bid farewell to the soil,
Down below decks we were lying,
O'Doherty screamed, woken out of a dream,
By a vision of bold Robert dying,
The sun it burned cruel, they dished out the gruel,
Dan O'Connor was down with the fever,
Sixty rebels today bound for Botany Bay,
How many will reach their receiver?

[Chorus]
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry,
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry.

[Chorus]
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry,
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry.

[Verse]
Oh, Van Diemen's land is a hell for a man,
To live out his whole life in slavery,
Where the climate is raw and the gun makes the law,
Neither wind or rain care for bravery,
Twenty years have gone by, I've ended my bond,
My comrades ghosts are behind me,
A rebel I came, sure I'll die the same,
On a cold winters night you will find me.

[Chorus]
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry,
Oh... oh, I wish I was back home in Derry.
I wish I was back home in Derry.