Now four jolly troopers from Mansfield town Set out to hunt the Kelly boys down They searched through the wombat for most of the week And they camped on the banks of the Stringybark Creek
cho: But Lonnigan's widow, she's singin' no songs She walks these red hills and cries all night long They say that Ned Kelly ain't never done wrong But tell that to Lonnigan's widow
Early that mornin' 'midst laughter and shoutin' Kennedy and Scanlon they rode off a scoutin' Left McIntyre to cook up the grub While Lonnigan sang at the old washin' tub
They were cleanin' the camp and brewin' up tea When up jumped Ned Kelly with his comrades three A shout and a cry and a crack of a gun Lonnigan staggers and Lonnigan's done
He's crawlin' he's cryin' he's clawin' the ground His voice makes a pleading and pitiful sound Of the way that he's dyin' nobody will speak When thy tell of the glories of Stringybark Creek
So sing of Ned Kelly that lad of renown The pride of Australia the scourge of the Crown Sing of his bravery and God bless his head And bury the truth as you bury the dead
A rare example of a song about Ned Kelly that paints him in a poor light.
Written by Silverstein for the 1970 movie "Ned Kelly" starring Mick Jagger. Sung on the soundtrack album by Waylon Jennings.
You've heard of Mirth and Music, the chestnut and the grey,
The gang that rode with Kelly, in ev'ry bold affray
The dark and daring Outlaw, who led his rebel ranks
To steal the squatters' cattle and robe the squatters' banks.
Kelly! Ned Kelly!
By Stringybark they sought him, he gunned troopers down
He galloped out of daybreak, to raid Euroa Town
His warlike band around hi,, their leather running free,
He swept across the border, and took Jerilderie.
He punished his betrayer, who broke the Kelly code,
To challenge up the troopers, he wrecked the iron road;
Against the foe, in armour, he strode his native land,
The Battle of Glenrowan, his great and fatal stand.
Amid the fire and fury, the troopers won the day,
The Kelly-men were broken, their leader brought to bay;
Beyond the pale of pardon, he kept a reckless pride,
Then choking on the gallows, the Armoured Outlaw died.
They tell the tale of Kelly, wherever deeds are known,
Of thunderbolt rebellion, the courage he had shown'
They tell of death and danger, the fate of mortal men
Then looming in the twilight, Ned Kelly rides again.
Another of the seemingly endless supply of Ned Kelly songs. No author's name is included on the single-sided sheet that includes this song. There is this footnote:
The sandgroper, 9B St. John's Court, Rivervale, WA.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated (The "90 years" reference in the notes places the song around 1970).
The following notes are from the lyric sheet:
Game as Ned Kelly!
Of all Australia's song, why did Kelly's name become the widest known and a household word for courage? What was the true calibre of the man who won such a lasting renown?
Ned Kelly has been likened to the Scto, Sir William Wallace - of whom it was said, "he began as a brigand, but his final aim was Independence". Both men were hanged and decapitated. Wallace's head was stuck on London Bridge - and Kelly's kept on a government desk. Legend has it, that a document - proclaiming a Republic of the North East - was found on Kelly at Glenrowan.
Some say it was Ned Kelly's mortal enemy - Lonigan - who triggered the gunfight at Stringybark Creek; that like Ben Hall, Kelly's intention had been to strip the troopers of their uniforms and dignity and run them back to Mansfield; but the tumble of events brought tragedy. Nevertheless, violence was inevitable, for the Kelly edict was clear; The Outlaw must be obeyed! And he meant it.
At all events, Australia - the nation, has given Ned Kelly a justice that Victoria - the colony, denied him.
After 90 years, the verdict stands - no man was gamer!.
The illustration to this post is a contemporary newspaper illustration of Ned Kelly's trial (1880).
A conglomeration of the available fragments. The first:
Recorded by John Meredith from the singing of Jack Luscombe, aged 86 (in March, 1953), of Ryde, N. S. W. Luscombe learned the song in Queensland during the 1890s. The second stanza appearing In "The Bulletin" of June 10th, 1882.
The verses:
Collected by Warren Fahey from Cyril Duncan (source: 1- cassette collection of ABC Radio programs: While the Billy Boils, A Panorama of Australian Folklore, devised and scripted by Warren Fahey, Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1981. [ISBN 0 6442 975817]
The illustration is a contemporary newspaper illustration. The caption reads:
"THE OUTLAWS AT BAY. SCENE OF THE ATTACK ON JONES'S HOTEL AT GLENROWAN"
Ye sons of Australia forget not your braves, Bring the wild forest flowers to strew o'er your graves. Of the four daring outlaws whose race it is run, And place on their tombs the wild laurels they've won.
On the banks of Euroa they made their first rush, They cleared out at Coppies, then steered through the bush, Black trackers and troopers soon did them pursue But cast out their anchor when near them they drew.
The daring Kate Kelly how noble her mien As she sat on her horse like an Amazon queen, She rode through the forest revolver at hand, Regardless of danger, who dare bid her stand.
May the angels protect this young heroine bold And her name be recorded in letters of gold, Though her brothers were outlaws, she loved them most dear, And hastened to tell them when danger was near.
But the great God of Mercy who scans all out ways Commanded grim death to shorten their days. Straightway to Glenrowan their course he did steer To slay those bold outlaws and stop their career.
The daring Ned Kelly came forth from the inn, To wreak his last vengeance he then did begin, To slaughter the troopers straightway he did go, And tore up the railway their train to o'erthrow.
But the great God of Mercy, to baulk his intent, And stop the destruction, a messenger sent, A person named Curnow, who seemed in great dread, Cried out to the troopers, 'There's danger ahead!'
But Time hath its changes; how dreadful their fate. They found out their error when it was too late, The house was surrounded by troopers two-score, And also expected a great many more.
The daring Ned Kelly, revolver in hand, Came to the verandah, the troopers he scanned, Said he "You curs'd wretches, we do you defy, We will not surrender, we conquer or die."
Like the free sons of Ishmael, brought up in the wilds, Amongst forests and mountains, and rocky defiles These brave lawless fellows could not be controlled, And fought ten to one, until death we are told.
Next day at Glenrowan, how dreadful the doom, Of Hart and Dan Kelly shut up in a room, A trooper named Johnson, set the house all aflame To burn those bold outlaws, it was a great shame
The daring Kate Kelly came forth from the crowd And on her poor brother she called out aloud, "Come forth my dear brother, and fight while you can" But a ball had just taken the life of poor Dan.
Next morning our hero came forth from the bush Encased in strong armour his way did he push. To gain his bold comrades it was his desire - The troopers espied him, and soon opened fire.
The bullets bound off him just like a stone wall, His fiendish appearance soon did them appal. His legs unprotected a trooper soon found, And a shot well directed brought him to the ground.
Now he arose captured, and stripped off his mail, Well guarded by troopers and taken to gaol. Convicted for murder, it grieved him full sore, His friends and relations his fate may deplore.
Now, all you young fellows take warning by me, Beware of bushranging, and bad company, For like many others you may feel the dart Which pierced the two Kellys, Joe Byrne, and Steve Hart.
From Stewart & Keesing's Australian Bush Ballads. Another version of the same poem, entitled "Ye sons of Australia, forget not your braves" appeared in John Meredith's Six Authentic Songs from the Kelly Country (Sydney, 1955) with the attribution "First published by "The Bulletin", and acknowledgement was made to "Mrs Gladys Scrivener, Erskineville (NSW) for the tune, and Mr J.K.Moir, Melbourne, for the words". The tune is also attributed to Gladys Scrivener in Authentic Australian Bush Ballads, edited by John Meredith and Alan Scott "for the Bush Music Club", published by the Southern Music Publishing Company in 1960.
Words: Traditional Tune: The Wearing of the Green.
Oh, Paddy dear, and did you hear the news that's going round On the head of bold Ned Kelly, they have placed two thousand pound And on Steve Hart, Joe Byrne and Dan, two thousand more they'll give But if the sum was doubled, boys, the Kelly gang would live.
'Twas in November, 78 when the Kelly Gang came down Just after shooting Kennedy, to famed Euroa town: To rob the bank of all it's gold was their idea that day, Blood horses they were mounted on to make their getaway.
Ned Kelly marched into the bank, a cheque all in his hand, For to have it changed for money then of Scott he did demand, And when that he refused him, he, looking at him straight, Said, "See here, my name's Ned Kelly, and this here man's my mate.
The safe was quickly gutted then, the drawers turned out as well, The Kellys being quite polite, like any noble swell. With flimsies, gold and silver coin, the threepennies and all, Amounting to two thousand pounds, they made a glorious haul.
"Now hand out all your firearms", the robber boldly said, And all your ammunition - or a bullet through your head. Now get your wife and children - come man, now look alive, All jump into this buggy and we'll take you for a drive"
They took them to a station about three miles away, And kept them close imprisoned there until the following day. The owner of the station and those in his employ And a few unwary travellers their company did enjoy.
And Indian hawker fell in too, as everybody knows. He came in handy to the gang by fitting them with clothes Then with their worn-out clothing they made a few bonfires And then destroyed the telegraph by cutting down the wires.
They rode into Jerilderie town at twelve o'clock at night, Aroused the troopers from their beds, and gave them an awful fright. They took them in their night shirts, ashamed I am to tell, They covered them with revolvers and they locked them in a cell.
They next acquainted the womenfolk that they were going to stay And take possession of the camp until the following day They fed their horses in the stalls without the slightest fear, They went to rest their weary limbs til daylight did appear.
They spent the day most pleasantly, had plenty of good cheer, Fried beefsteak and onions, tomato sauce and beer, The ladies in attendance indulged in pleasant talk, And just to ease the troopers minds, they took them for a walk.
On Monday morning early, still masters of the ground, They took their horses to the forge and had them shod all round. Then back they came and mounted, their plans they laid so well, In company with the troopers they stuck up the Royal Hotel.
They bailed up all the occupants and placed them in a room, Saying, "Do as we command you, or death will be your doom" A Chinese cook, "No savvy!" cried, not knowing what to fear, But they brought him to his senses with a lift under the ear.
All who now approached the house, they shared a similar fate, In hardly any time at all, they numbered twenty-eight. They shouted freely for all hands, and paid for what they drank, And two of them remained in charge, while two went to the bank.
The farce was here repeated, as I've already told, They bailed up all the banker's clerks and robbed them of their gold. The manager could not be found and Kelly, in great wrath, Searched high and low, and luckily, he found him in his bath.
The robbery o'er they mounted then to make a quick retreat, They swept away with all their loot by Morgan's ancient beat And where they've gone, I do not know. If I did, I wouldn't tell So now, until I hear from them, I bid you all farewell.
Another song of the history of Australia's most famous bushranger, Edward (Ned) Kelly. More detail of the events recounted in this song can be found on the Australian Dictionary of Biography site. It was after robbing the bank at Jerilderie that Ned wrote his famous "Jerilderie Letter" justifying his conduct.
Also known as The Kellys, Byrne and Hart, this is a (slightly) abridged version of that found in Stewart & Keesing's Australian Bush Ballads.
