Background:
The colonial boy in this song is often confused with Jack Donahue who arrived in 1825 from Ireland, was convicted three years later of highway robbery and sentenced to death. He escaped and began a guerrilla war against the Sydney's wealthy. Two years later he was shot dead near Campbelltown by police.
That song is called Bold Jack Donahue. The confusion is understandable since both use the same chorus.
There are many variations of The Wild Colonial Boy. Like most bush songs, the original was never written down by whoever wrote it so no one knows which version is correct.
We also don't know if Jack Doolan is an actual person or simply a fictitious one. In fact, we don't even know for sure if Castlemaine is the city in Victoria, Australia or in County Kerry, Ireland.
In any case, The Wild Colonial Boy is one of the most popular bushranger songs of all time.
The Wild Colonial Boy (Artist: The Clancy Brothers)
There was a wild colonial youth, 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 only joy
The pride of both his parents was the wild colonial boy
Come all my hearties, we'll range the mountainside
Together we will plunder, together we will ride
We'll scour along the valleys and gallop o'er the plains
We'll scorn to live in slavery, bowed down in iron chains
In sixty-one this daring youth commenced his wild career
With a heart that knew no danger, no foeman did he fear
He held up the Beechworth mailcoach and he robbed Judge MacEvoy
Who trembled and gave up his gold to the wild colonial boy
One day as he was riding the mountainside along
Alistening to the little birds their pleasant laughing song
Three mounted troopers came in view - Kelly, Davis, and Fitzroy
And 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, you daring highwayman"
He drew a pistol from his belt and spun it like a toy
"I'll fight, but I won't 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
Select two unfamiliar words/phrases from this list. Find a definition of each word/phrase.
plunder scour scorn daring
foeman troopers highwayman mortal
Link to the Australian National Dictionary
Reflect on your impression/understanding of the poem/song. Use the worksheet attached here to guide your thinking.
(You will have an opportunity to share these with the other members of your group.)
Point of view: From whose point of view is the poem/lyrics written?
Theme: What is the theme or message in the poem/lyric?
WASLA Teacher Librarian of the Year- 2017: Jo-Anne Urquhart
- 2016: Lise Legg
WASLA Library Officer of the Year- 2012: Karen Notley