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Lionel Long - Botany Bay Chords

ChordsG, D7, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D,E keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram


[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]


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]


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]


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]


‘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]


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]


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]


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]


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]


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]


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]


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]

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AlbumWaltzing Matilda
GenresCountry, Folk
Year1998
KeyG

How to play Botany Bay on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Lionel Long - Botany Bay on guitar 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;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
G to D7

2. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
G to C

3. C → D7 chord transition

To move from C to D7;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
C to D7

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 Chordier.
  • Botany Bay contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Botany Bay connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D7: 1%
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%