Steeleye Span: Van Diemen's Land

Today’s feature is one of the many versions of the traditional tune “Van Diemen’s Land.” This 19th century song is about poachers who were convicted, sentenced, and deported to the British penal colony on Van Diemen’s Land. When the colony achieved home rule status in 1856, it was officially renamed as Tasmania in honor of the first European to visit the island. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman named his discovery after Anthony van Diemen, the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies. Tasmania was one of six British colonies that were federated into Australia in 1901.

Steeleye Span’s Maddy Prior tells this story as the female protagonist Susan Summers; the numerous other versions are usually sung from a male perspective even when performed by female vocalists (for example Shirley Collins). There are English and Irish versions of this song that have some radical differences, but also some lyrical similarities. The 2004 LP “They Called Her Babylon” marked the return of Prior and her husband bassist Rick Kemp to the band.

Steeleye Span's recording of "Van Diemen's Land" should not be confused with the U2 song of the same title. From "Rattle and Hum," U2's song has original lyrics written by The Edge and sung to the tune of "the Water is Wide."

Lyrics

I am a girl from England, Susan Summers is me name
For fourteen years transported was for taking of some game
As for us wretched females, we never see a man
Though there's twenty to one woman on Van Diemen’s Land.

There’s Poor Tom Brown from Nottingham, Jack Williams and Poor Joe
They were all daring poachers as the country well does know
At night they were trappended by the keepers out of hand
For fourteen years transported to Van Diemen’s Land.

When we set sail from England, we landed in the bay
We had rotten straw for bedding, we dare not to say nay
Our cots were fenced with wire, we slumber when we can
To drive away the wolves upon Van Diemen’s Land.

Come all you gallant poachers, give ear unto me song
It is a bit of good advice although it is not long
Lay by your dog and snare, to you I do speak plain
If you knew the hardships, you'd never poach again

The first day we landed upon that fatal shore
The planters they came flocking round, twenty score and more
They dragged the men like horses and sold them out of hand
And yoked 'em to the plough all on Van Diemen’s Land.

Sometimes when I’m sleeping, I have a pleasant dream
With me dear one I’m sitting down by some pearling stream
With me friends telling stories around me they all stand
But I wake up broken hearted on Van Diemen’s Land.

Come all you gallant poachers, give ear unto me song
It is a bit of good advice although it is not long
Lay by your dog and snare, to you I do speak plain
If you knew the hardships, you'd never.

God bless our families, likewise that happy shore
That isle of sweet contentment that we shall see no more
For a planter's bought me freedom, he's married me out of hand
Good usage then I’ll give him on Van Diemen’s Land.