Streets of Forbes

Traditional




Come all you Lachlan men and a sorrowful tale I'll tell,
Concerning of a hero bold who through misfortune fell,
His name it was Ben Hall, a man of good renown,
Who was hunted from his station, and like a dog shot down.

Three years he roamed the roads, and he showed the traps some fun,
One thousand pounds was on his head, with Gilbert and Jack Dunn.
Ben parted from his comrades, the outlaws did agree,
To give away bushranging and to cross the briny sea.

Ben went to Goobang Creek, and that was his downfall
For riddled like a sieve was the valiant Ben Hall,
'Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May
That the seven police surrounded him as fast asleep they lay.

Bill Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead,
The troopers then fired madly and they filled him full of lead,
They rolled him in his blanket and strapped him to his prad,[8]
And they led him through the streets of Forbes, to show the prize they had.


The story of the bushranger, Ben Hall. This song is sometimes attributed to John McGuire, Ben Hall's brother-in-law, this song was collected by John Manifold. I learnt it at school. This version is from the cloudstreet album, Swallow the Concertina.