There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Doolan was his name.
With poor and honest parents he was born near Castlemaine.
He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy
And dearly did his parents love their Wild Colonial Boy.
At the early age of 16 years he left his native home
And round Australia's sunny shores a bushranger did roam.
He held up the wealthy squatters, their stock he did destroy.
A terror to Australia was the Wild Colonial Boy!
So come along you hearties, we'll roam the mountain wide,
Together we will plunder and together we will die.
We'll wander over valleys and gallop over plains,
And scorn to live in slavery bound down by iron chains!
In '61 this daring youth commenced his wild career,
With a heart that knew no danger no foeman did he fear.
He held up the Beechwood mailpost and robbed Judge McEvoy.
Who trembling cold gave up his gold to the Wild Colonial Boy.
He bade the judge good morning and told him to beware.
He'd never rob an honest man who acted on the square.
For a man who'd rob a mother of her son and only joy.
He could expect no mercy from the Wild Colonial Boy.
So come along you hearties, we'll roam the mountain wide,
Together we will plunder and together we will die.
We'll wander over valleys and gallop over plains,
And scorn to live in slavery bound down by iron chains!
One day as he was riding the mountainside along,
Listening to the kookaburas pleasant mocking song.
He spied three mounted troopers: Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
With a warning for the capture of the Wild Colonial Boy.
"Surrender now Jack Doolan, you see we're three to one!
Surrender in the Queen's high name! You are a highwayman."
Jack drew two pistols from his belt and waved it like a toy.
"I'll fight but not surrender!" cried the Wild Colonial Boy.
So come along you hearties, we'll roam the mountain wide,
Together we will plunder and together we will die.
We'll wander over valleys and gallop over plains,
And scorn to live in slavery bound down by iron chains!
He fired a trooper Kelly and brought him to the ground.
Then in return from Davis, he received his fatal wound.
All shattered through the jaws he laid still firing at Fitzroy,
And that's the way they captured him the Wild Colonial Boy.
So come along you hearties, we'll roam the mountain wide,
Together we will plunder and together we will die.
We'll wander over valleys and gallop over plains,
And scorn to live in slavery bound down by iron chains!