The Wild Colonial Boy by Anonymous
"The Wild Colonial
Boy" is a traditional Irish–Australian
ballad of which there are many different versions, the most prominent being the
Irish and Australian versions. The original version was about Jack
Donahue, an Irish rebel who became a convict, then a bushranger [1], who was eventually
shot
down by police. This version was outlawed as seditious so the name changed. The
Irish version is about a young emigrant, named Jack Duggan, who left the town
of Castlemaine,
County Kerry, Ireland, for Australia in the 19th century. According
to the song, he spent his time there 'robbing from the rich to feed the poor'.
In the song, the protagonist is fatally wounded in an ambush when his heart is
pierced by the bullet of Fitzroy. The song has been recorded by Dr.
Hook, Rolf Harris, Larry
Kirwan, and The Clancy
Brothers, among others.
G C D7 G
There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name
D D7 G
He was born and raised in Ireland, in a place called Castlemaine
D D7 G
He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy,
D7 C D D6 D7 G
And dearly did his parents love, the wild colonial boy.
Repeat. -
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
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 Doolan, 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
Doolan' poem:
Chorus:
Chorus:
|
Come, all 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 Doolan 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 would
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 Doolan,
you see were three
to one".
Surrender in the
queens name
you daring
highwayman,"
Jack drew two
pistols from his belt,
and waved them proud
and free
"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
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
- In the United States, a version of this song was popularized by folk singer Burl Ives.
- The walking skeleton in Robert Frost's poem the Witch of Coos is said to have been searching for way out of the house, because he wanted to sing his favorite song, "The Wild Colonial Boy", in the snow.
- A portion of the Irish version of "The Wild Colonial Boy" can be heard in the 1952 film The Quiet Man.
- Mick Jagger sings this song in the 1970 movie Ned Kelly, which is about a real-life Australian outlaw.
- A waltz version of the tune features in the ball scene in Baz Luhrmann's film Australia (2008)
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