The Wild Colonial Boy

Tommy Makem

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 McAvoy

A terror to Australia was the wild colonial boy



One morning on the prairie as Jack he rode along

A listening to the mockingbird a singing a cheerful song

Out 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 for you're a plundering son"

Jack pulled two pistols from his belt and 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