The Kilkennys are a 4-piece traditional Irish ballad group, who have been e… Read Full Bio ↴The Kilkennys are a 4-piece traditional Irish ballad group, who have been entertaining audiences all over the country, and internationally for the past ten years, with their unique and accomplished style of playing and vocal talent. Known as one of the hardest working bands in Ireland, they perform the length and breath of the country up to five nights a week. Up to now, they have been performing as Uisce Beatha, but due to various crucial reasons and the fact that a few bands with the same name have sprung up around the world, the decision was taken to change the name to The Kilkennys, as the boys are very proud of their black and amber roots! This name change coincided with the band signing up to Dolphin Records, the record company of such Irish music legends as Mary and Frances Black, Liam Clancy, Dolores Keane, Ronnie Drew, Jack L and Sonny Knowles. The band was originally formed by Dave Cashin, Adam Cashin and Tommy Mackey, while at school in St. Kierans College in Kilkenny. Robbie Campion would later come on board to complete the bands unique vocal and musical sound. The Kilkennys have shared the stage with some of the country's most prominent folk icons, including Shane McGowan, Finbarr Furey and the late Ronnie Drew. They have also toured Scotland, Germany and the US on a number of occasions to great acclaim. Now with the forthcoming release of their debut album and live DVD, audiences will be enthralled by the energy, passion and musical talents of The Kilkennys.

Members:
DAVID CASHIN: Vocals, Mandolin, Banjo, Whistles. ADAM CASHIN: Vocals, Bodhran and Percussion. ROBBIE CAMPION: Vocals, Guitar and Banjo. TOMMY MACKEY: Vocals, Bass Guitar

Wild Colonial Boy
The Kilkennys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There was a wild colonial boy,
Jack Duggan was his name
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
A terror to Australia was
The wild colonial boy

One morning on the prairie
As Jack he rode along
A listening to the mockingbird
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...

Overall Meaning

The Wild Colonial Boy is a traditional Irish-Australian song that tells the story of Jack Duggan, a young man who became a legendary bushranger (outlaw) in colonial Australia during the 19th century. The song begins with a description of Jack's childhood in Castlemaine, Ireland, where he was the only son of his parents and was cherished by them. When he was sixteen, he decided to leave his homeland and go to Australia, where he became involved in robbery, murder and other criminal activities. Despite his nefarious reputation, Jack became a folk hero among many ordinary Australians who sympathized with his defiance of the colonial authorities.

The middle stanza of the song describes the final moments of Jack's life. While he was riding through the prairie one day, he encountered a group of troopers who had been sent to capture him. They demanded that he surrender in the name of the Queen, but Jack refused and engaged them in a gunfight. He managed to shoot and kill one of the troopers, but he was mortally wounded by another. As he lay dying, he was captured and taken into custody. The last lines of the song suggest that his legend lived on even after his death, as he became known as "the wild colonial boy."

Line by Line Meaning

There was a wild colonial boy,
Once there lived a daring rebel known as the wild colonial boy,

Jack Duggan was his name
Jack Duggan was the title that was given to this hero of fame.

He was born and raised in Ireland
He hailed from dear old Ireland, his place of birth, his native land.

In a place called Castlemaine
Castlemaine was the town he called his home and where he once did reign.

He was his father′s only son,
His father had but one child, his precious only son,

His mother's pride and joy
And his mother loved him dearly, her darling little boy.

And dearly did his parents love
His parents loved him truly, more than the stars above.

The wild colonial boy
This man who lived so boldly, this wild colonial boy.

At the early age of sixteen years,
At sweet sixteen he left his home, a new adventure nears.

He left his native home
He left to find a new life, his destiny to roam.

And to Australia's sunny shore
He set his sights on Oz, where the sun shone bright once more.

He was inclined to roam
He wandered far and wide, afraid of nothing but the unknown.

He robbed the rich, he helped the poor, he shot James McAvoy
Jack was a man of the people; he shot the elite, whom he saw as ploys.

A terror to Australia was
He sent shivers down the spine of Oz, a terror with no cause.

The wild colonial boy
That wild and fearless spirit, the wild colonial boy.

One morning on the prairie
One fateful morning on the plain, where he would face his pain.

As Jack he rode along
As he rode with great courage, not knowing what would come along.

A listening to the mockingbird
Listening to nature's melodies, he believed in the beauty of irony.

Singing a cheerful song
A mockingbird sang that day, filling the air with an upbeat sway.

Out stepped a band of troopers,
But then he was surrounded, by troopers ready to pounce on the wounded.

Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy
The troopers' names were Kelly, Davis, and Fitzroy.

They all set out to capture him,
They aimed to catch and chain him, to end his gallant whim.

The wild colonial boy
To catch that fearless spirit, the wild colonial boy.

Surrender now Jack Duggan for
The troopers then commanded Jack's surrender, trying to scare him like a warden.

You see we're three to one
There were three troopers, one Jack; they knew there was no way back.

Surrender in the Queen's high name for you′re a plundering son
They wanted Jack to surrender, for they saw him as a grave offender.

Jack pulled two pistols from his belt and he proudly waved them high
Jack chose to fight back, rather than to bow down and die.

I'll fight, but not surrender,' said
Jack declared his defiance, his will, his independence, which they could never break.

The wild colonial boy
That proud colonial rebel, the wild colonial boy.

He fired a shot at Kelly,
Jack aimed and shot at Kelly, who was the first to turn smelly.

Which brought him to the ground
The shot made Kelly fall, now he lay there, no more standing tall.

And turning 'round to Davis, he
And then towards Davis he turned around, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground.

Received a fatal wound
A lifeless body fell into the dirt, from the fatal blow, there was no escape or spur.

A bullet pierced his proud young heart from the pistol of Fitzroy
Fitzroy's shot hit home, and Jack knew his fate, his life coming to a close, his destiny sealed by fate.

And that was how they captured him,
And so they 'captured' him, although the cost was high, the lives that couldn't be kept in the sky.

The wild colonial boy
The fearless spirit wasn't tamed, the wild colonial boy.

Writer(s): Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem, Pat Clancy, Tom Clancy

Contributed by Gabriel K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS