Anderson's Coast

Oh Bass Strait roars like some great mill race

And where are you, my Annie?

And the same moon shines on this distant place

As shone that night on my Annie's face

Oh Annie dear, don't wait for me

I fear I shall not return to thee

There's naught to do but endure my fate

And watch the moon, the lonely moon

Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait

We stole a vessel and all her gear

And where are you, my Annie?

And from Van Diemen's we north did steer

Till Bass Strait's wild waves wrecked us here

Oh Annie dear, don't wait for me

I fear I shall not return to thee

There's naught to do but endure my fate

And watch the moon, the lonely moon

Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait

And somewhere west port Melbourne lies

And where are you, my Annie?

Through swamps infested with snakes and flies

The fool who walks there, surely dies

Oh Annie dear, don't wait for me

I fear I shall not return to thee

There's naught to do but endure my fate

And watch the moon, the lonely moon

Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait

We hail no ships, though time it drags

And where are you, my Annie?

Our chain gang walk and our government rags

All mark us out as Van Diemen's lags

Oh Annie dear, don't wait for me

I fear I shall not return to thee

There's naught to do but endure my fate

And watch the moon, the lonely moon

Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait

We fled the lash and the chafing chain

And where are you, my Annie?

We fled starvation and brutal pain

But here we are, and here remain

Oh Annie dear, don't wait for me

I fear I shall not return to thee

There's naught to do but endure my fate

And watch the moon, the lonely moon

Light the breakers on wild Bass Strait