Like a lot of Irish convicts of the nineteenth century, Jack Duggan is sent to Australia by the British. The Irish delight in stories of criminals fighting the law, and for obvious reasons; it's why Robin Hood was so popular--not just the stealing from the rich, but the defiance of the oppressed against the oppressors.
C F
There was a wild colonial boy
G7 C
Jack Duggan was his name
G7
He was born and raised in Ireland
C
In a house called Castlemaine
G7
He was his father’s only son
C
His mothers pride and joy
F
And dearly did his parents love
G7 C
That 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 MacEvoy
A terror to Australia was
That wild colonial boy.
One day upon the prairie
As Jack he rode along
A-listening to the mocking bird
Singing their cheerful song
Out jumped a band of troopers
Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
They all set out to capture him
That wild colonial boy.
Surrender now Jack Duggan
For you see we’re three to one
Surrender in the Queen’s high name
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 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.