The Wild Colonial Boy

"The Wild Colonial Boy" is a traditional anonymous Irish-Australian ballad of which there are many different versions, the most prominent being the Irish and Australian versions. The original was about Jack Donahue, an Irish rebel who became a convict, then a bushranger,[1] and was eventually shot dead by police. This version was outlawed as seditious, so the name in the song was changed to Jack Doolan. The Irish version is about a Jack Duggan, young emigrant who left the town of Castlemaine, County Kerry, Ireland, for Australia in the early 19th century. According to the song, he spent his time "robbing from the rich to feed the poor". In the song, Duggan is fatally wounded in an ambush when he is shot in the heart by Fitzroy.

"The Wild Colonial Boy" has been recorded by Dr. Hook, Rolf Harris, Larry Kirwan, John Doyle, The Irish Rovers and The Clancy Brothers, among others, and was featured in the film The Quiet Man.

Irish lyrics

The lyrics are as follows:

There was a wild colonial boy,
Jack Duggan was his name
He was born and raised in Ireland,
in a place called Castlemaine
He was his father's only son,
his mother's pride and joy
And dearly did his parents love
the wild colonial boy
At the early age of sixteen years,
he left his native home
And to Australia's sunny shore,
he was inclined to roam
He robbed the rich, he helped the poor,
he shot James MacEvoy
A terror to Australia was
the wild colonial boy
One morning on the prairie,
as Jack he rode along
A-listening to the mocking bird,
a-singing a cheerful song
Up stepped a band of troopers:
Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
They all set out to capture him,
the wild colonial boy
Surrender now, Jack Duggan,
for you see we're three to one.
Surrender in the Queen's high name,
you are a plundering son
Jack drew two pistols from his belt,
he proudly waved them high.
"I'll fight, but not surrender,"
said the wild colonial boy
The Wild Colonial Boy
Tune for The Wild Colonial Boy
Problems playing this file? See media help.
He fired a shot at Kelly,
which brought him to the ground
And turning round to Davis,
he received a fatal wound
A bullet pierced his proud young heart,
from the pistol of Fitzroy
And that was how they captured him,
the wild colonial boy

Australian lyrics

The Australian version is quite different. It is about a boy named Jack Dolan, born in Castlemaine. The poem then continues on to tell of his exploits without mentioning his moving to Australia, which implies that the Castlemaine in question is that in Victoria.

Here is one version of the "Jack Dolan/Doolan/Duggan" poem:
Chorus:

Come along my hearties,
We'll roam the mountains high,
Together we will plunder,
Together we will ride.
We'll scar over valleys,
And gallop for the plains,
And scorn to live in
slavery, bound down by iron chains.
It's of a wild Colonial Boy,
Jack Dolan was his name,
Of poor but honest parents,
He was born in Castlemaine.
He was his father's only son,
His mother's pride and joy,
And so dearly did his parents love
The wild Colonial Boy.
When scarcely sixteen years of age,
He left his father's home,
And through Australia's sunny shores
A bushranger did roam.
He'd rob the largest squatters,
Their stock he would destroy,
A terror to Australia was
The wild Colonial Boy.
In sixty-one this daring youth
Commenced his wild career,
With a heart that knew no danger,
No stranger did he fear.
He bailed up the Beechworth roll mail-coach,
And robbed Judge MacEvoy,
Who trembled and gave up his gold to
The wild Colonial Boy.
He bade the judge "Good morning,"
And told him to beware,
That he'd never rob a poor man
Who wafted on the square,
Three mounted troopers came in sight,
Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy,
Who thought that they would capture him,
The wild Colonial Boy.
"Surrender now, Jack Dolan,
You see we're three to one.
Surrender in the queen's high name,
You daring highwayman."
Jack drew a pistol from his belt,
And waved it like a toy,
"I'll fight, but not surrender,"
Cried the wild Colonial Boy.
He fired at Trooper Kelly,
And brought him to the ground,
And in return from Davis,
He received a mortal wound.
All shattered through the jaws he lay,
Still firing at Fitzroy,
And that's the way they captured him –
The wild Colonial Boy.

In popular culture

References

  1. ↑ http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clancyann/rebelgirlhistory.html
  2. ↑ "Charge of Harbouring the Kelly Gang". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). National Library of Australia. 26 November 1880. p. 6. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Moran, Fran (9 January 2002). "Singles, B Sides, Eclectica". The Parting Glass: An Annotated Pogues Lyrics Page. Retrieved 6 July 2016.

External links

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