BUSHRANGERS
An analysis of Australian Highwayman Ballads
In February, 2004, I was invited to participate in the Museum of Australia’s conference on ‘Outlaws’, coinciding with their travelling exhibition of the same name. In preparing one of my papers I set out to list the number of highwayman ballads in the Australian tradition.
The list makes for interesting reading and I make the further note that it doesn’t include the satirical Kelly Gang songs that appeared in the popular press nor country music songs like Blind Billy Blinkhorn’s ‘Poor Ned Kelly’. Any further contributions or corrections to this list appreciated.
Bold Jack Donahue 3
Bold Jack Donahue/Adventures of Bold Jack Donahoe
Adventures of Brave Jack Donahue
Wild Colonial Boy
Kelly Gang 20
My Name Is Edward Kelly/Young Ned Kelly
Ballad of the Kelly Gang/The Kellys, Brynes & Hart
Stringybark Creek
Farewell to Greta
The Sash Ned Kelly Wore
The Bold Kelly Gang
Up the Kellys
Hat Ned Kelly Wore
Ned Kelly Was Born in a Ramshackle Hut
The Bold Kelly Gang/the Kelly Gang
The Kelly Gang
The Kellys (are having a mighty fine time)
Kelly’s A Brave General
The Kelly Gang were strong
Kelly was their Captain
The Kelly’s Foes/We Are Two Plucky Troopers
Ned Kelly Was An Irishman
Ned Kelly Was A Gentleman
Death of Ned Kelly
We’re the Jolliest Lot of Thieves
Ye Sons of Australia
Frank Gardiner 2
Frank Gardiner Bushranger/Frank Gardiner He Is caught At Last
Morning of the Fray
Ben Hall Gang 6
Ben Hall/Death of Ben Hall/Brave Ben hall
Streets of Forbes
Ballad of Ben Hall
Ballad of Ben Hall’s Gang/Dunn Gilbert & Ben Hall
My Name Is Ben Hall
Diverting History of John Gilbert/John Gilbert
Others 8
Bushranger Jack Power
Gallant Peter Clarke/Peter Clarke
Lightning Jack/Starlight
Death of Morgan
Death of Fred Lowry
Captain Moonlight
Ballad of Jack Lefroy
Those Bold Bushrangers
UK and found in Australia 2
Brennan on the Moor
Dick Turpin and the Lawyer/Turpin Hero
And, most surprising since he was one of the most colourful of all.
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