y separately published work icon The Illustrated Treasury of Australian Verse anthology   poetry   biography  
Issue Details: First known date: 1984... 1984 The Illustrated Treasury of Australian Verse
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Contents

* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:Nelson , 1984 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
The Wild Colonial Boyi"'Tis of a wild Colonial boy, Jack Doolan was his name", single work poetry

'The Wild Colonial Boy' is a traditional Irish/Australian ballad of which there are many different versions. It has been argued that the original version was really about Jack Donahoe (variously spelled Donahoo or Donahue), an Irish transport who arrived at Sydney Cove in 1825, and was subsequently convicted of highway robbery and sentenced to death. He escaped and waged a guerrilla war against the wealthy for more than two years in the country around Sydney. On September 1st 1830 he was ambushed by a police party near Cambelltown and shot dead, his companions Webber and Warmsley escaping into the bush. This version was eventually outlawed as seditious so the name of the protagonist changed.

The resulting Irish version is about a young emigrant, named Jack Duggan, who left the town of Castlemaine, County Kerry, Ireland, for Australia in the 1800s. According to the song (and in keeping with the true story of Jack Donahoe), he spent his time there 'robbing from the rich to feed the poor'. In the song, the protagonist is fatally wounded in an ambush when his heart is pierced by the bullet of Fitzroy.

The Australian version has Jack Doolan (or sometimes Jack Dowling) as the protagonist, and here Castlemaine refers to the Australian town in Victoria. In both versions variation in the wording and language occurs across different sources.

In his Old Bush Songs, Banjo Patterson wrote: "it will be noticed that the same chorus is sung to both 'The Wild Colonial Boy' and 'Bold Jack Donahoo'. Several versions of both songs were sent in, but the same chorus was always made to do duty for both songs." This chorus, included in some (not all) Australian versions is as follows:


Come, all my hearties,

we'll roam the mountains high,

Together we will plunder,

together we will die.

We'll wander over valleys,

and gallop over plains,

And we'll scorn to live in

slavery, bound down with iron chains.

 (p. 17-18)
Down Where the Coolibahs Growi"A strapping young stockman lay dying,", Horace A. Flower , single work poetry (p. 18-19)
Click Go the Shears : An Australian Balladi"Out on the board the old shearer stands", single work poetry (p. 20-21)
The Eumeralla Shorei"There's a happy little valley on the Eumeralla shore,", single work poetry (p. 21-22)
Note: Attributed to 'Cockatoo Jack.' With title: The Numerella Shore.
Bold Jack Donahoei"'Twas of a valiant highwayman and outlaw of disdain", single work poetry (p. 23-24)
From : Ye Wearie Wayfarer : (Finis Exoptatus)i"Hark! the bells on distant cattle", Adam Lindsay Gordon , extract poetry (p. 24-25)
The Sick Stock-Rider The Sick Stockrideri"Hold hard, Ned! lift me down once more, and lay me in the shade,", Adam Lindsay Gordon , single work poetry (p. 26-27)
A Midsummer Noon in the Australian Forest "Not a sound disturbs the air," A Mid-Summer Noon in the Australian Foresti"Not a bird disturbs the air,", Charles Harpur , single work poetry (p. 29)
Bell-Birdsi"By channels of coolness the echoes are calling,", Henry Kendall , single work poetry (p. 30-31)
From: September in Australiai"Grey winter hath gone, like a wearisome guest,", Henry Kendall , extract poetry (p. 31)
The Last of His Tribei"He crouches, and buries his face on his knees,", Henry Kendall , single work poetry (p. 32-33)
How M'Dougal Topped the Scorei"A peaceful spot is Piper's Flat. The folk that live around-", Thos. E. Spencer , single work poetry humour (p. 33-35)
Where the Pelican Builds Her Nest Where the Pelican Buildsi"The horses were ready, the rails were down,", Mary Hannay Foott , single work poetry (p. 36)
Nine Miles from Gundagaii"I've done my share of shearing sheep,", Jack Moses , single work poetry (p. 36-37)
The Call of the Cityi"There is a saying of renown -", Victor J. Daley , single work poetry (p. 38-39)
Waltzing Matilda : Carrying a Swagi"Oh! there once was a swagman camped in the billabong,", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry (p. 40)
The Man from Snowy Riveri"There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry (p. 41-43)
The Man from Ironbarki"It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town,", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry humour (p. 44-45)
The Travelling Post Officei"The roving breezes come and go, the reed beds sweep and sway", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry humour (p. 45-46)
Clancy of the Overflowi"I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry (p. 47-48)
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