We sailed from Australia in a calm and sleepy sea
From Melbourne town to Liverpool, a journey of degree
From the goldfields of Australia, a fortune in the hold
We sailed into a cruel sea, and Moelfre was a moment away

The danger crept towards us as we reached Amlwch Bay
The Beaufort scale was twelve and the anchor was aweigh
Four hundred men were taken by the raging sea that night
And with the dawn came heavenly calm
And Moelfre was a moment away

‘The storm has overtaken us’ the captain cried
‘The highest waves have claimed, us, all around have died,
The anchor chain is broken, the anchor chain is gone
And the Royal Charter is no more
The Royal Charter is no more’

The captain had to make a choice to seek help for the ship
To try to make his own way to complete the awful trip
For the Pilot ship at Liverpool was struggling with the tide
And could not reach the crew in time
And Moelfre was a moment away

‘The storm has overtaken us’ the captain cried
‘The highest waves have claimed, us, all around have died,
The anchor chain is broken, the anchor chain is gone
And the Royal Charter is no more
The Royal Charter is no more’

Inside a bar at Holyhead, salvaged from the sea
Memories of a fateful trip for all the world to see
Lined up on a wooden shelf with the posters and the pictures
A brave Australian lady, she's no more
And Moelfre was a moment away

‘The storm has overtaken us’ the captain cried
‘The highest waves have claimed, us, all around have died,
The anchor chain is broken, the anchor chain is gone
And the Royal Charter is no more
The Royal Charter is no more’