Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics www.traditionalmusic.co.uk Bold Jack Donohue 
Bold Jack Donohue 
Come all you gallant bushrangers who gallop o'er the plains Refuse to live in slavery, or wear the convict chains. Attention pay to what I say, and value if I do For I will relate the matchless tale of bold Jack Donohue. 
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 bushranger, Jack Donohue was his name And he scorned to humble to the crown, bound down with iron chain. 
Now Donohue was taken all for a notorious crime And sentenced to be hanged upon thw gallow tree so high But when they to him to Bathurst Gaol, he left them in a stew For when they came to call the roll, they missed Jack Donohue. 
Now when Donohue made his escape, to the bush he went straight way. The squatters they were all afraid to travel by night and by day And every day in the newspapers, they brought out something new, Concerning that bold bushranger they called Jack Donohue. 
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 Donohue. 
"Oh Donohue, Donohue, throw 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 Donohue 
Now the sergeant and the corporal, their men they did divide Some fired at him from behind and some from every side. The sergeant and the corporal, they both fired at him, too. And a rifle bullet pierced the heart of Bold Jack Donohue. 
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 eyes, he bid the world adieu, Saying "Convicts all, pray for the soul of Bold Jack Donohue." 
Sung by Trevor Lucas with Fotheringay in 1970. This song is only co on the (never released) BBC sessions, along with superb versions of Eppie Morrie, Lowlands of Holland and Gipsy Davy. 
The bandit Jack Donohue was transported to Australia for life in 18 for intent to commit a "felony". He subsequently escaped and wrough on the planters and police until he was captured and shot in 1830. ballad has sported many versions both in Australia and Ireland, amo "The Wild Colonial Boy" and "The Ballad of Jack Dolan (or Duggan, D but this one is the original.