Wild Colonial Boy

So come away me hearties, we’ll roam the mountains high
Together we will plunder and together we will die
We’ll scour along the valleys and we’ll gallop or’er the plains
And scorn to live in slavery, bound down by iron chains

There was 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

At the age of sixteen years, he left his native home
And to Australia’s sunny shores, a bushranger did roam
They put him in the iron gang, in the government employ
But never an iron on earth could hold, the Wild Colonial Boy

So come away me hearties, we’ll roam the mountains high
Together we will plunder and together we will die
We’ll scour along the valleys and we’ll gallop or’er the plains
And scorn to live in slavery, bound down by iron chains

In sixty-one this daring youth commenced his wild career
With a heart that knew no danger and no foreman did he fear
He stuck up the Beechworth mail coach and robbed Judge MacEvoy
Who, trembling cold, gave up his gold to the Wild Colonial Boy

He bade the Judge good morning and he told him to beware
That he’d never rob a needy man or one who acted square
But a Judge who’d robed a mother of her one and only joy
Sure, he must be a worse outlaw than, the Wild Colonial Boy

So come away me hearties, we’ll roam the mountains high
Together we will plunder and together we will die
We’ll scour along the valleys and we’ll gallop or’er the plains
And scorn to live in slavery, bound down by iron chains

One day as Jack was riding, the mountainside along
A- listening to the little birds, their happy laughing song
Three mounted troopers came along, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
With a warrant for the capture of the Wild Colonial Boy

‘Surrender now! Jack Doolan, for you see it’s three to one
Surrender in the King’s own name, you are a highwayman’
Jack drew his pistol from his belt and waved it like a toy
‘I’ll fight, but not surrender,’ cried the Wild Colonial Boy

So come away me hearties, we’ll roam the mountains high
Together we will plunder and together we will die
We’ll scour along the valleys and we’ll gallop or’er the plains
And scorn to live in slavery, bound down by iron chains

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

So come away me hearties, we’ll roam the mountains high
Together we will plunder and together we will die
We’ll scour along the valleys and we’ll gallop or’er the plains
And scorn to live in slavery, bound down by iron chains