Bold Jack Donohue (2) In Dublin town I was brought up that city of great fame My parents reared me tenderly there's many did the same Being a wild colonial boy I was forced to cross the main And for seven long years in New South Wales to wear a convict's chain Oh I'd been no longer than six months upon Australian shores When I turned out as a Tory boy as I'd often done before There was Macnamara from yonder woods and Captain Mackie too They were the chief associates of bold Jack Donahoe As O'Donahoe was taken for a notorious crime And sentenced to be hanged all on the gallows high But when he came to Sydney gaol he left them in a stew For when they came to call the roll they missed Jack Donahoe As O'Donahoe made his escape to the woods he did repair Where the tyrants dared not show their face by night and day And every week in the newspapers there was published something new Concerning that bold hero boy called brave Jack Donahoe As O'Donahoe was walking one summer's afternoon Little was his notion that his death should be so soon When a sergeant of the horse police discharged his carabine And loudly called to O'Donahoe to fight or else resign Resign to you, you cowardly dogs its a thing I ne'er will do For I'll range these woods and valleys like a wolf or kangaroo Before I'll work for Government said bold Jack Donahoe Nine rounds the horse policeman fired till at length a fatal ball He lodged it in O'Donahoe's breast and it caused him to fall As he closed his mournful eyes to this world he bid adieu Good people all both great and small pray for Jack Donahoe --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- This version collected by Alan Scott from Mr H. Beatty of Hawthorne Qld. In his booklet The Donahoe Ballads gives some 16 tunes that have been collected. The earliest Donahoe ballad appeared in The Sydney Gazette 7th September 1830. On 2nd January 1825 John Donahoe arrived at Sydney Cove on board the convict ship 'Ann and Amelia'. He had been sentenced to transportation for life on a charge "Intent to commit felony". On 1st September 1830 Donahoe, with his companions William Webber and John Warmsley, was ambushed by a party of police near Bringelly. Donahoe was shot dead, while Webber and Walmsley escaped. DT #428 Laws L22 MG apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!