The Wild Colonial Boy

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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 Irish version is about a young emigrant, named Jack Duggan, who left the town of Castlemaine, County Kerry, Ireland, for Australia in the 1800s. 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 and The Clancy Brothers, among others.

Contents

[edit] Chords

-

      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 Castlemain
                          D             D7                G
      He was his fathers only son, his mothers pride and joy,
                  D7      C       D              D6   D7  G
      And dearly did his parents love, the wild colonial boy.

Repeat. -

[edit] 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

[edit] 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:

Come, all my hearties,
we'll roam the mountains high,
Together we will plunder,
together we will die.
We'll wander over valleys,
and gallop over plains,
And we'll scorn to live in
slavery, bound down with iron chains.
Tis 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 hope,
his mother's pride and joy,
And dearly did his parents love
the wild Colonial Boy.
He was scarcely sixteen years of age
when he left his father's home,
And through Australia's sunny clime
a bushranger did roam.
He robbed those wealthy squatters,
their stock he did destroy,
And 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 foeman did he fear.
He stuck up the Beechworth 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 hearty chap
that acted on the square,
And never to rob a mother of
her son and only joy,
Or else you might turn outlaw,
like the wild Colonial Boy.
One day as he was riding
the mountain-side along,
A-listening to the little birds,
their pleasant laughing song,
Three mounted troopers rode along-
Kelly, Davis and FitzRoy,
They thought that they would capture him,
the wild Colonial Boy.
"Surrender now, Jack Doolan,
you see there's three to one.
Surrender now, Jack Doolan,
For your stealing days are done."
He drew a pistol from his belt,
and shook the little toy,
"I'll fight, but not surrender,"
said 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.

[edit] In popular culture

  • In the United States, a version of this song was popularized by folk singer Burl Ives.
  • A portion of the Irish version of "The Wild Colonial Boy" can be heard in the John Wayne film The Quiet Man.
  • Mick Jagger sings this song in the 1970 movie Ned Kelly, which is about a real-life Australian outlaw.


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