[Verse]
"A noble whale shipping commander,
In a ship called Catalpa", they say,
"Came over to Western Australia
And stole six poor Fenians away."
Now all the Perth boats were out racing
And making short tacks for the spot,
But the Yankees tacked into Fremantle
And he took the best boys of the lot.
[Chorus]
So come all you screw warders and gaolers,
Remember Perth regatta day,
And you'd better take care of your Fenians
Or the Yankees will steal them away.
[Verse]
The Georgette, were armed with bold warriors,
Went out the poor Yanks to arrest,
But she hoisted her star-spangled banner,
Saying, "You will not board me, I guess."
For seven long years they were serving
And seven long more had to stay,
For defending their country, Old Ireland,
And for that they were banished away.
[Chorus]
So come all you screw warders and gaolers,
Remember Perth regatta day,
And you'd better take care of your Fenians
Or the Yankees will steal them away.
[Verse]
You kept them in Western Australia,
Till their hair it begun to turn grey,
When a brave whaling captain called Anthony,
Came out here and stole them away.
So remember those Fenians, colonials,
And sing all these verse with skill,
And remember those Yankees who stole them,
And the home that they left on the hill.
[Chorus]
So come all you screw warders and gaolers,
Remember Perth regatta day,
And you'd better take care of your Fenians
Or the Yankees will steal them away.
[Verse]
So with Hogan, brave Wilson and Harrington,
To freedom a sailing did so,
With Hassett and Darragh and Cranston,
They soon met the Saxon foe.
Here's luck to the brave Captain Anthony,
Who so well did his men he set free ,
For he dared the whole English navy,
For to fight him upon the blue see.
[Chorus]
So come all you screw warders and gaolers,
Remember Perth regatta day,
And you'd better take care of your Fenians
Or the Yankees will steal them away.
[Chorus]
So come all you screw warders and gaolers,
Remember Perth regatta day,
And you'd better take care of your Fenians
Or the Yankees will steal them away.