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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BALLAD OF BEN HALL'S GANG, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Come all you wild colonials Last Line: "says dunn, gilbert, and ben hall" Subject(s): Crimes & Criminals;heroism;revenge; Heroes;heroines | |||
COME all you wild colonials And listen to my tale; A story of bushrangers' deeds I will to you unveil. 'Tis of those gallant heroes, Game fighters one and all; And we'll sit and sing, Long live the King, Dunn, Gilbert and Ben Hall. Frank Gardiner was a bushranger Of terrible renown; He robbed the Forbes gold escort, And eloped with Kitty Brown. But in the end they lagged him, Two-and-thirty years in all. "We must avenge the Darkie," Says Dunn, Gilbert and Ben Hall. Ben Hall he was a squatter Who owned six hundred head; A peaceful man he was until Arrested by Sir Fred. His home burned down, his wife cleared out, His cattle perished all. "They'll not take me a second time," Says valiant Ben Hall. John Gilbert was a flash cove, And John O'Meally too; With Ben and Burke and Johnny Vane They all were comrades true. They rode into Canowindra And gave a public ball. "Roll up, roll up, and have a spree," Says Gilbert and Ben Hall. They took possession of the town, Including public houses And treated all the cockatoos And shouted for their spouses. They danced with all the pretty girls And held a carnival. "We don't hurt them who don't hurt us," Says Gilbert and Ben Hall. Then Miss O'Flanagan performed In manner quite genteelly Upon the grand pianner For the bushranger O'Meally. "Roll up! Roll up! It's just a lark For women, kids and all; We'll rob the rich and help the poor," Says Gilbert and Ben Hall. They made a raid on Bathurst, The pace was getting hot; But Johnny Vane surrendered After Micky Burke was shot. O'Meally at Goimbla Did like a hero fall; "The game is getting lively," Says Gilbert and Ben Hall. Then Gilbert took a holiday, Ben Hall got new recruits; The Old Man and Dunleavy Shared in the plunder's fruits. Dunleavy he surrendered And they jugged the Old Man tall— So Johnny Gilbert came again To help his mate, Ben Hall. John Dunn he was a jockey, A-riding all the winners, Until he joined Hall's gang to rob The publicans and sinners; And many a time the Royal Mail Bailed up at John Dunn's call. A thousand pounds is on their heads— Dunn, Gilbert and Ben Hall. "Hand over all your watches And the banknotes in your purses. All travellers must pay toll to us; We don't care for your curses. We are the rulers of the roads, We've seen the troopers fall, And we want your gold and money," Says Dunn, Gilbert and Ben Hall. "Next week we'll visit Goulburn And clean the banks out there; So if you see the peelers, Just tell them to beware; Some day to Sydney city We mean to pay a call, And we'll take the whole damn country," Says Dunn, Gilbert, and Ben Hall. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON NOTES FOR AN ELEGY by WILLIAM MEREDITH THE EROTICS OF HISTORY by EAVAN BOLAND A SONG FOR HEROES by EDWIN MARKHAM AFTER THE BROKEN ARM by RON PADGETT PRELUDE; FOR GEOFFREY GORER by EDITH SITWELL EXAMINATION OF THE HERO IN A TIME OF WAR by WALLACE STEVENS TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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