The Wild Colonial Boy

An old Irish ballad first published in 1881.
Adapted by Joseph M. Crofts.
Published by Walton’s Piano, Dublin, 1930.

The sheet music:

Wild-Colonial-Boy – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

The_Wild_Colonial_Boy – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. There was a wild colonial boy
    Jack Duggan was his name
    He was born and reared in Ireland
    In a place called Castlemaine
    He was his father’s only son
    And his mother’s pride and joy
    And dearly did his parents love
    The wild colonial boy
  2. At hammer throwing Jack was great
    Or swinging a Caman
    He led the boys in all their pranks
    From dusk to early dawn
    At fishin’ or at poachin’ trout
    He was the “rale” McCoy
    And all the neighbours loved young Jack
    The wild colonial boy
  3. At the early age of sixteen years
    He left his native home
    And to Australia’s Sunny land
    He was inclined to roam
    He robbed the rich, and he helped the poor
    He stabbed James MacEvoy
    A terror to Australia was
    The wild colonial boy
  4. He loved the Prairie and the Bush
    Where Rangers rode along
    With his gun stuck in it’s holster deep
    He sang a merry song
    But if a foe once crossed his track
    And sought him to destroy
    He’d get sharp shootin’ sure from Jack
    The wild colonial boy
  5. “Surrender now, Jack Duggan, Come”
    “You see there’s three to one
    Surrender in the Queen’s name, Sir
    You, are a plundering Son”
    Jack drew two pistols from his side
    And glared upon Fitzroy
    “I’ll fight, but not surrender,” cried
    The wild colonial boy
  6. For two more years this daring youth
    Ran on his wild career
    With a head that knew no danger
    And a heart that knew no fear
    He robbed outright the wealthy squires
    And their Arms he did destroy
    And woe to all who dared to fight
    The wild colonial boy
  7. One morning on the prairie wild
    Jack Duggan rode along
    While listening to the mocking bird
    Singing a cheerful song
    Out jumped three troopers, fierce and grim
    Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
    They all set out to capture him
    The wild colonial boy
  8. He fired a shot at Kelly
    Which brought him to the ground
    He fired point blank 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

Sung here by Vancha March: