Story Behind The Song

George Howe was convicted of petty theft as a youngster, deported to Australia, and became the first newspaper editor in the new colony, typical of the stories from the child-convict era

Song Description

A young Convict, George Howe, makes light of his convict chains and dreams of the promise land

Lyrics

Chains of Freedom Gary Woods

There?s little space to rest my head, yet dream tomorrow?s day
Too little room to stretch my knees, to bow my head and pray
Yet still see opportunity in land to which we sail
A sun-burnt land with keys to chains of freedom from this jail

I have an image of a land that?s vast, untamed and wild
A vision of hot summer sun and winter weather mild
A picture of a harbour and of beaches running free
A dream these chains of freedom are part of my destiny

These chains are chains of freedom if you pray my dreams come true
So join me in my prayers of hope and every one of you
Will feel the pain in every chain begin to disappear
My chains are chains of freedom in a big new world out there.

Your prayers of hope can help us find this land that fills my dreams
And those same prayers will make this voyage safer than it seems
So when the journey?s over, and we?ve found our new home land
Remember me right here today, by then you?ll understand

Your chains are chains of freedom if you pray my dreams come true
So join me in my prayers of hope and every one of you
Will feel the pain in every chain begin to disappear
Our chains are chains of freedom in a big, new world out there.

Will feel the pain in every chain begin to disappear
Our chains are chains of freedom in a big, new world out there

Our chains are chains of freedom so come share this world I dream