# The Wild Colonial Boy

A traditional Irish/Australian ballad.

## 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: 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.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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