South Latitude 38
By Brenton B. Manser
Copyright 2000 Australia
Chorus (no music)
Heave to lads she's blowin' a gale
The Lady's no bigger than a Southern Right Whale
From the tip of Cape Banks down through the Bass Strait
Sail South Latitude thirty eight
Verse One
She came fully laden from Dead Man's Dock
She was labelled His Majesty's Tinder Box
It was eighteen hundred, thirteenth of January
'twas the little Lady Nelson smallest of the Georgian fleet
Verse Two
She sailed over troublesome stormy seas
There was doubt as to wether she was sea-worthy
But Lt James Grant believed she would sail to please
His quest was to go where no other British had been
Chorus
Heave to lads she's blowin' a gale
The Lady's no bigger than a Southern Right Whale
From the tip of Cape Banks down through the Bass Strait
Sail South Latitude thirty eight
Verse Three
She was fired on thrice by her sovereignty
She was taken in tow by the Brunswick East
She was taunted and mocked, abandoned, pilfered by thieves
Tossed by the storms and soothed by the tropical breeze
Verse Four
Flying fish on deck and a lunar rainbow
There was hail and ice there was even snow
There were stars so bright like only other sailors have seen
There were seas so high and the deepest of valleys between
Chorus
Heave to lads she's blowin' a gale
The Lady's no bigger than a Southern Right Whale
From the tip of Cape Banks down through the Bass Strait
Sale South Latitude thirty eight
Verse Five
From the Cape of Good Hope through the Southern monsoon
Came aboard Doctor Brandt and his dog and baboon
To journey the Atlantic powerful, romantic blue
With Lt James Grant and the able Lady Nelson Crew
Verse Six
Then in Latitude South thirty eight degrees
They discovered the land from the west to south east
From Carpenters Rocks to Wilson's Promontory
They filled in the map to the gap where Bass had been
Chorus
Heave to lads she's blowin' a gale
The Lady's no bigger than a Southern Right Whale
From the tip of Cape Banks down through the Bass Strait
Sail South Latitude thirty eight
Repeat Chorus
