South Australia

South Australia also known as Rolling King or Bound for South Australia. As an original worksong it was sung in a variety of trades including being used in the wool and later wheat traders who worked the clipper ships between Australian ports and London

In South Australia I was born

Heave away. Haul away!

In South Australia round Cape Horn

I’m bound for South Australia

[Chorus]

Haul away you rolling kings 

Heave away! Haul away! 

Haul away you’ll hear me sing 

We’re bound for South Australia

As I went out one morning fair

Twas there I saw Miss Nancy Blair

I shook her up, I shook her down,
I shook her round and round the town.

There ain’t but one thing grieves my mind,

To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind.

And as we wallop around Cape Horn,

You’ll wish to God you’d never been born. 

I wish I was on Australia strand,

With a bottle of whiskey in my hand