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Kelly Was Their Captain Lyrics by Gary Shearston

Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia

2013

Come all you wild colonial boys, and attention to me pay
For in my song I will unfold the truth without delay
'Twas of a famous outlawed band that roamed this country round
Ned Kelly was their captain and no better could be found
But the Governor of Victoria was an enemy of this man
And a warrant he likewise did put out to take his brother Dan
But alas, one day, some troopers came, young Dan to apprehend
And he like a tiger stood at bay, his mother to defend
Five hundred pounds reward was made for Ned, wherever he was found
And from place to place was hunted as if he were a hound
Now driven to desperation to the bush brave Ned did take
Young Dan, Steve Hart and brave Joe Byrne, all for his mother's sake
And although they deemed them outlaws, brave men they proved to be
And vengeance ranked in every heart for Kelly's misery
They burned his mother's vine-clad hut, which caused his heart to yearn
And angered his companions, Dan, Steve Hart and brave Joe Byrne
One day as Ned and his comrades in ambush were concealed
They spied three mounted troopers and their presence did reveal
They called to them, 'Surrender!' These words to them he said -
'Resist a man amongst you and I'll surely shoot you dead.'
Now Kennedy, Scanlon and Lonergan, in death were lying low
When Ned amongst them recognised his old and viscious foe;
Then thoughts came of his mother with a baby at her breast
And it filled Ned's heart with anger, and the country knows the rest
It was at the Wombat Ranges where Ned Kelly made his haunt
And all those Victorian troopers at that name would truly daunt;
For months they lay in ambush until finally were betrayed
By traitor Aaron Sherritt, and his life the treachery paid
It was at the Glenrowan station where the conflict raged severe
When more than fifty policemen at the scene then did appear
No credit to their bravery, no credit to their name
Ned Kelly terrified them all and put their blood to shame

About “Kelly Was Their Captain” by Gary Shearston

Read the complete lyrics to "Kelly Was Their Captain" by Gary Shearston from the album "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" in 2013. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Australia, Country.

"Kelly Was Their Captain" is performed by Gary Shearston. from the album "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" in 2013 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Kelly Was Their Captain", explore more songs by Gary Shearston using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Kelly Was Their Captain" is credited to Gary Shearston. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Kelly Was Their Captain" appears on "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" in 2013.

Visit the Gary Shearston artist page at /artist/gary-shearston for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.