Wild Colonial Boy

"Wild Colonial Boy" lyrics and music traditional

Performed by Marc Gunn
From: St. Patrick's Day

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 helped the poor, he robbed the rich,
Their crops he would destroy
A terror to Australia was
the wild colonial boy

For two long years this daring youth
ran on his wild career
With a heart that knew no danger
and a soul that felt no fear.
He held the Beechwood Coach up
and he robbed Judge McEvoy
Who, trembling, gave his gold up
to the wild colonial boy.

He bade the Judge "Good Morning"
and he told him to beware
For he never robbed an honest judge
who acted ‘on the square"
"Yet you would rob a mother
of her only pride and joy
And breed a race of outlaws like
the wild colonial boy"

One morning on the prairie,
While Jack Duggan rode along
While listening to the mocking bird,
a-singing out his song
Out jumped three troopers fierce and grim
Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
Were detailed for to capture him,
the wild colonial boy

"Surrender now, Jack Duggan,
you can see we're three to one
Surrender in our Queen's name,
for you are a plundering son".
Jack drew two pistols from his belt,
and glared upon Fitzroy
"I'll fight, but not surrender,"
cried the wild colonial boy

He fired a shot at Kelly,
and he brought him to the ground
He fired a shot at Davis too,
who fell dead at the sound
But a bullet pierced his brave young heart,
from the pistol of Fitzroy
And that was how they captured him,
the wild colonial boy

Chords: KEY C

[C]There was a wild col-[F]onial [G]boy,
Jack [G7]Duggan was his [C]name
He was born and raised in [G]Ireland,
in a [G7]place called Castle-[C]maine
He was his father's [G]only son,
his [G7]mother's pride and [C]joy
And dearly [C7]did his [F]parents [G]love
the wild colon-[G7]ial [C]boy

Background

Wild Colonial Boy is a ballad that was written in the late 19th century about Jack Donaghue from Castlemaine in County Kerry.

 

Wild Colonial Boy Videos

from St Patrick's Day CD