Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem - The Wild Colonial Boy

There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name
He was born and raised in Ireland in a place called Castle Maine
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, Jack left his native home
and to Australia's sunny shores he was inclined to roam
he robbed the rich, he helped the poor he shot James McEvoy
A terror to Australia wsa, the wild colonial boy

One morning on the prarie, as Jack he rode along
and listening to the mosckingbird, sing it's joyful song
up came a band of troopers, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
They'd 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 for you are a plundering son"
Jack drew two pistols from his belt and proudly waved them high
"I'll fight but not surrender!" said the wild colonial boy

He fired a shot at Kelly, which laid him to the groud
and turning 'round to Davis he received a fatal wound
a bullet pierced the fierce young heart from the pistol of Fitzroy
and that was how they captured him the wild colonial boy

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk

[BoyMixer]

Many a night I have sang this song on the walk back to my home from the pub....much to the regret of my sleeping neighbors.

[hkeddieme]

In Australia the name is often Jack Doolan Whether the song is about an actual bushranger is not clear. Bold Jack Donahue was a real bushranger who died in 1830. However the wild colonial boy is set in the gold rush days of the 1860s. No bush ranger from that era with a similar name is known.

No Australian version would refer to praries or mocking birds. We don't have these. For these Americanisms they should be clapped in irons and sent to Botany Bay!

Otherwise a nice version.

[OffyDoavy]

good tune, very catchy: jack Doogan...ROFLLL... love it mister.

[PeteHappee]

Africa for Africans. Asia for Asians. Turkey for Turks. Ireland and every white nation for EVERYONE. It is genocide.

[Grisbi6]

One of my bunkmates at Fort Belvoir, VA played his transistor radio in 1963 at night, and this song was often played on WAVA-FM from Arlington, VA. Fond memories for me...

[samorasquid]

@ZephyrForza God I love Australia? What does that even mean?

[hEyes1000]

@jrm0205 ah know.gawny geeza brek

[rocky6081]

cmon guys... its just a tale told by good people to pass the time.... it is what life is about...no analysis please...that song is freakin legend!

[ZephyrForza]

@hkeddieme I agree! God i love australia!