The Wild Colonial Boy

Trad

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 King’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 recieved 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

This ballad written in the latter half of the 19th century, tells the story of Jack Donoghue, a native of Castlemaine, Co Kerry. He became a bush ranger in Australia and was killed by mounted police. (Surname may be Duggan or Dougan).

Here is a much fuller version of Wild Colonial Boy.