After Makem amicably left The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem in 1969, Bobby Clancy joined as the fourth lead vocalist. Two of the Furey Brothers, Finbar Furey and Eddie Furey, also joined at this time as instrumentalists and back-up singers. Paddy asked Finbar Furey if he would play the whistle and five-string banjo with the group. Finbar also added Uillean pipes to his performances, creating a new sound for the group on stage, recordings, and TV. The six-piece band recorded two new albums in the summer of 1969: "Clancy Brothers Christmas", released later that year, and "Flowers in the Valley", released in 1970. The latter was their final album for Columbia Records.
Finbar and Eddie Furey left in 1970, and, for a short time, just the four brothers, Paddy, Tom, Bobby and Liam, performed together. This line-up recorded only one album together, Welcome to Our House, in 1970 for their new label, Audio Fidelity Records. Later that same year, Liam and Bobby got into an argument that resulted in Bobby quitting the group. Bobby later said about his younger brother: "With Liam it was very hard to be equal. I try to make it as equal as possible and everybody's happy that way. It makes it a better sound."
In 1971, the remaining Clancys recruited English folk singer, Louis Killen, to play the banjo, concertina, and spoons with the group. Together they made two studio albums for Audio Fidelity, Save the Land and Show Me the Way, on which they experimented with modernising their sound, musical style, and material, even including pop songs like Elton John's "Country Comfort". They recorded their final album for Audio Fidelity, the more traditional Live on St. Patrick's Day, at the Bushnell Auditorium in Hartford, Connecticut in 1972. It was released the following year.
By the early 1970s, the Clancys reduced their touring schedule to five months a year. The brothers were moving in different directions In spite of the brothers' growing distance, but, in spite of this, the group made one more album with Killen for Vanguard Records, The Clancy Brothers' Greatest Hits, as well as several television appearances on the Irish Rovers Show in Canada and a TV special for Brockton television in 1974 (in which Bobby Clancy made a surprise guest appearance).
In early 1976, a scheduling conflict between a tour of Australia and a television role for Tom Clancy provoked Liam to leave the group. Beginning in 1977, the Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell (who took on the role Liam had vacated) toured three months a year in March, August, and November.
In the summer of 1983, the group travelled to their hometown in Ireland to film a 20-minute special on sea songs, sung on location on the fishing ships in the area. It was called Songs of the Sea. Directed by Irish filmmaker David Donaghy, it was broadcast on the BBC Northern Ireland.
In 1984, Makem and Clancy's manager Maurice Cassidy brought the original foursome The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem together again for a documentary, followed by a concert and the album The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Reunion.
In 1988, the Clancy Brothers (Paddy, Tom, and Bobby) with Robbie O'Connell recorded a poorly mixed live album at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, titled "Tunes 'n' Tales of Ireland".
With the death of Tom Clancy in 1990, Liam again stepped in full-time with his brothers. This line-up experienced a more active schedule than the group had during the previous decade, with appearances on Regis and Kathie Lee in 1991, 1993 and 1995, a performance at the 30th Anniversary Bob Dylan concert at Madison Square Garden in 1992, seen by 20,000 live and 200 million people worldwide on television, and the formation of Irish Festival Cruises in 1991, an annual cruise of the Caribbean with live folk music. They also brought their own tour groups to Ireland, which Robbie O'Connell continues.
The Bob Dylan concert in 1992 inspired the recording of the first studio album by The Clancy Brothers in over twenty years (since 1973's Greatest Hits). Released in late 1995, "Older But No Wiser" introduced all newly recorded songs with the exception of "When the Ship Comes In", which the group performed at the Dylan concert. It was the only recording to feature the line-up of Paddy, Bobby, Liam Clancy, and Robbie O'Connell. Older But No Wiser was The Clancy Brothers' final album.
Before splitting up, The Clancy brothers and Robbie O'Connell gave a Farewell Tour of Ireland and America in February and March 1996. One performance in Clonmel, as part of their Irish tour, was televised and later released on video and DVD as The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell: Farewell to Ireland.
After the break-up, Paddy and Bobby continued touring as The Clancy Brothers, with Bobby's son Finbarr Clancy becoming an official member of the group. The trio added longtime friend of Bobby's daughter Aoife, Eddie Dillon, to the group for a thirteen city engagement in early 1997. The quartet was known as the Clancy Brothers and Eddie Dillon. Eddie Dillon, a Boston-based musician, is the only American ever to perform with the Clancy Brothers.
Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell toured for a while as a duo, but very soon added Liam's son DĆ³nal Clancy to the mix, forming the group, Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy. They released two albums together, an eponymous debut album in 1997 and an album of sea songs in 1998, The Wild and Wasteful Ocean.
With three brothers having died (Tom in 1990, Pat in 1998, Bobby in 2002), the last surviving Clancy brother, Liam Clancy, continued to tour solo into the twenty-first century. He died in 2009.
The Wild Colonial Boy
The Clancy Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was born and raised in Ireland in a place called Castlemaine
He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy
And dearly did his parents love the wild colonial boy
At the early age of sixteen years, he left his native home
And to Australia's sunny shore he was inclined to roam
He robbed the rich, he helped the poor, he shot James McAvoy
One morning on the prairie as Jack he rode along
A listening to the mockingbird a singing a cheerful song
Out stepped a band of troopers, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
They all set out to capture him, the wild colonial boy
"Surrender now Jack Duggan for you see we're three to one
Surrender in the Queen's high name for you're a plundering son"
Jack pulled two pistols from his belt and he proudly waved them high
"I'll fight, but not surrender," said the wild colonial boy
He fired a shot at Kelly, which brought him to the ground
And turning 'round to Davis, he received a fatal wound
A bullet pierced his proud young heart from the pistol of Fitzroy
And that was how they captured him, the wild colonial boy
The lyrics of The Wild Colonial Boy by The Clancy Brothers tell the story of a young man named Jack Duggan, who was born and raised in Castlemaine, Ireland, and went on to become a notorious outlaw in Australia. The song highlights his reputation as a thief who targeted the wealthy but also helped the poor, and as a skilled marksman who shot and killed one of his pursuers. Despite being outnumbered by the troopers who eventually caught him, he refused to surrender and instead fought to his last breath.
The song's lyrics paint a picture of a romanticized outlaw, glorifying Jack Duggan's exploits and portraying him as a hero fighting against authority and oppression. However, the tragic ending of the story reminds listeners that even the wildest of colonial boys cannot escape the consequences of their actions forever.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name
There lived a young boy named Jack Duggan who was wild and adventurous.
He was born and raised in Ireland in a place called Castlemaine
Jack Duggan was born and brought up in Castlemaine, Ireland.
He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy
Jack Duggan was the only son of his parents, and they loved him a lot.
And dearly did his parents love the wild colonial boy
Jack Duggan was loved by his parents even though he was wild and adventurous.
At the early age of sixteen years, he left his native home
When Jack Duggan was only sixteen years old, he left Ireland.
And to Australia's sunny shore he was inclined to roam
He went to Australia because he was interested in exploring the sunny shore.
He robbed the rich, he helped the poor, he shot James McAvoy
Jack Duggan was notorious for robbing the wealthy and helping the needy. He also once shot a man named James McAvoy.
A terror to Australia was the wild colonial boy
Jack Duggan was feared by the people of Australia because of his criminal activities.
One morning on the prairie as Jack he rode along
Jack Duggan was riding one morning on the prairie.
A listening to the mockingbird a singing a cheerful song
He was enjoying listening to the cheerful melody of a mockingbird.
Out stepped a band of troopers, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
A group of police officers, Kelly, Davis, and Fitzroy, suddenly appeared in front of him.
They all set out to capture him, the wild colonial boy
The officers aimed to capture Jack Duggan, the wild colonial boy.
"Surrender now Jack Duggan for you see we're three to one
The officers asked Jack Duggan to surrender as they had outnumbered him.
Surrender in the Queen's high name for you're a plundering son"
They requested him to surrender in the name of the Queen since he had committed various crimes in the region.
Jack pulled two pistols from his belt and he proudly waved them high
Jack Duggan took out two pistols from his belt and waved them high, showing that he was not afraid to fight.
"I'll fight, but not surrender," said the wild colonial boy
Jack Duggan refused to surrender, saying that he would fight instead.
He fired a shot at Kelly, which brought him to the ground
Jack Duggan fired a shot at Kelly, causing him to fall to the ground.
And turning 'round to Davis, he received a fatal wound
Jack Duggan shot Davis, who suffered a severe injury.
A bullet pierced his proud young heart from the pistol of Fitzroy
Finally, Fitzroy shot Jack Duggan in the heart, causing him to die.
And that was how they captured him, the wild colonial boy
In the end, the officers succeeded in capturing Jack Duggan, the wild colonial boy, by killing him.
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@belzoni5430
The absolute best version of this by the Clancy Brothers and Makem. And that means the best version anywhere. Period.
@jimmccormack4777
Absolutely perfectly sang, go on boys. Went to see Liam in Limerick just before he died , brilliant he was, the best of stories and poems he told. I went with my brother and friend, we were known as The Mc Cormack Brothers and Glen Scanlon. š»
@liamconnolly9233
Bob Dylan described Liam Clancy as the finest balladeer he ever heard.
@jamesbradshaw3389
@Liam Connolly That is true, He did and Bob is always completely correct
@jamesbradshaw3389
@Liam Connolly I can see it now written in large letters over the musichall entrance doorway. Fully Sold Out for 6 Months, Playing tonight are the world-famous, yes The Clancey brothers and their dear 1st cousin Tommy Maken with support band The Mc Cormack Brothers and their friend from down t he road a bit Glen Scanlon
@jamesbradshaw3389
Great story, I wish that I had gone to see the greatest rocking band along with Thin Lizzy, best the 2 best hard rocking bands of all time
@odonovan
@james bradshaw, except Tommy Makem wasn't related to the Clancys. He was from Northern Ireland, Co. Armagh. The Clancys were from Co. Tipperary.
@MyIrules
This is fantastic stuff. The best Clancy Brothers cuts feature everyone leading a verse like this- not just Liam and Tommy, but Tom and Paddy as well- the reason they were so great was because they all had such different but complimentary voices!
@michaeldonohoe621
My Father, a hard Irishman. Loved this group. His favourite song was. šµ The Mountain Dewš. Also, the Holy ground. š
@dkdodds8837
š¦šŗas a Australian with convict ancestors this is a bloody great song that brings a tear to my eyes