Lionel Long - Botany Bay Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele D7 chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
[Opening]
[G] [D7] [G] [G]
Fare[G]well to old [D7]England for[G]ever [D7]
Fare[G]well to my [C]rum culls as [D7]well [D7]
Fare[G]well to the [C]well known Old [G]Bailee [C]
Where I [G]used for to [D7]cut such a [G]swell [D7]
[chorus]
Singing [G]tooral li[D7]ooral li[G]addity [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[D7]ay [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[G]addity [C]
And we’re [G]bound for [D7]Botany [G]Bay [G]
[section 2]
There’s the [G]captain as [D7]is our Com[G]mander [D7]
There’s the [G]bo’sun and [C]all the ship’s [D7]crew [D7]
There’s the [G]first and [C]second class [G]passengers [C]
Knows [G]what we poor [D7]convicts go [G]through [D7]
[chorus]
Singing [G]tooral li[D7]ooral li[G]addity [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[D7]ay [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[G]addity [C]
And we’re [G]bound for [D7]Botany [G]Bay [G]
[section 3]
‘taint [G]leavin’ old [D7]England we [G]cares about [D7]
‘taint [G]cos we mis[C]pels what we [D7]knows [D7]
But be[G]cos all we [C]lightfingered [G]gentry [C]
Hops a[G]round with a [D7]log on our [G]toes [D7]
[chorus]
Singing [G]tooral li[D7]ooral li[G]addity [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[D7]ay [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[G]addity [C]
And we’re [G]bound for [D7]Botany [G]Bay [G]
[section 4]
For [G]seven long [D7]years I’ll be [G]staying here [D7]
For [G]seven long [C]years and a [D7]day [D7]
For [G]meeting a [C]cove in an [G]area [C]
And [G]taking his [D7]ticker a[G]way [D7]
[chorus]
Singing [G]tooral li[D7]ooral li[G]addity [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[D7]ay [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[G]addity [C]
And we’re [G]bound for [D7]Botany [G]Bay [G]
[section 5]
Oh, had [G]I the [D7]wings of a [G]turtledove [D7]
I’d [G]soar on my [C]pinions so [D7]high [D7]
Slap [G]bang to tha [C]arms of my [G]Polly Love [C]
And [G]in her sweet [D7]presence I’d [G]die [D7]
[chorus]
Singing [G]tooral li[D7]ooral li[G]addity [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[D7]ay [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[G]addity [C]
And we’re [G]bound for [D7]Botany [G]Bay [G]
[Closing]
Now, [G]all my young [D7]Dookies and [G]Duchesses [D7]
Take [G]warning from [C]what I’ve to [D7]say [D7]
Mind [G]all is your [C]own as you [G]touchesses [C]
Or you’ll [G]find us in [D7]Botany [G]Bay [D7]
[chorus]
Singing [G]tooral li[D7]ooral li[G]addity [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[D7]ay [D7]
Singing [G]tooral li[C]ooral li[G]addity [C]
And we’re [G]bound for [D7]Botany [G]Bay [G]
How to play Botany Bay on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Lionel Long - Botany Bay on ukulele requires 3 chords and 3 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Botany Bay uses these transitions most often: D7 → G (55), G → D7 (43), and G → C (36). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - D7 chord transition.
1. G → D7 chord transition
To move from G to D7;
- While playing G, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
2. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → D7 chord transition
To move from C to D7;
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
Botany Bay chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Botany Bay.
- Botany Bay includes 170 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.05% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Botany Bay contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Botany Bay connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D7: 1%
After D7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).- D7 → G: 51%