The Isle Of France Lyrics - John Wesley Harding

Oh the sky was dark and the night advanced 

When a convict came to the isle of france 

And round his leg was a ringing chain 

And his country was of the shamrock green 

I'm from the shamrock this convict cried 

That has been tossed on the ocean wide 

For being unruly I do declare 

I was doomed to transport these seven long years 

When six of them they were up and past 

I was coming home to make up the last 

When the winds did blow and the seas did roar 

They cast me here on this foreign shore 

So then the coastguard he played a part 

And with some brandy, he cheered the convict's heart 

Although the night is far advanced 

You shall find a friend on the isle of france 

So he sent a letter all to the queen 

Concerning the wreck of the shamrock green 

And his freedom came by a speedy post 

For the absent convict they thought was lost 

God bless the coastguard this convict cried 

For he's saved my life from the ocean wide 

And I'll drink his health in a flowing glass 

And here's success to the isle of france