Sandy Denny - Bold Jack Donahue lyrics

Come all you gallant bushrangers who gallop o'er the plains

Refuse to live in slaveryor wear the convict chains.

Attention pay to what I sayand value if I do

For I will relate the matchless tale of bold jack donahue.

Come all you sons of liberty and everyone besides

I'll sing to you a story that will fill you with surprise

Concerning of a bold bushrangerjack donahue was his name

And he scorned to humble to the crownbound down with iron chain.

Now donahue was taken all for a notorious crime

And sentenced to be hanged upon the gallows tree so high

But when they took him to bathurst gaolhe left them in a stew

For when they came to call the rollthey missed jack donahue.

Now when donahue made his escapeto the bush he went straight way.

The squatters they were all afraid to travel by night and by day

And every day in the newspapersthey brought out something new

Concerning that bold bushranger they called jack donahue.

Now one day as he was riding the mountainside alone

Not thinking that the pains of death would overtake him soon.

When all he spied the horse police well on they came up into view

And in double quick time they did advance to take jack donahue.

``oh donahuedonahuethrow down your carbine.

Or do you intend to fight us all and will you not resign? ''

``surrender to such cowardly dogs is a thing that I never would do

For this day I'll fight with all my might''cried bold jack donahue.

Now the sergeant and the corporaltheir men they did divide

Some fired at him from behind and some from every side.

The sergeant and the corporalthey both fired at himtoo.

And a rifle bullet pierced the heart of bold jack donahue.

Now nine rounds he fired and nine men down before that fated ball

Which pierced his heart and made him smart and caused him for to fall

And as he closed his mournful eyeshe bid the world adieu

Saying ``convicts allpray for the soul of bold jack donahue.''