He was born here in the mid 1850's
Below the big hill north of Melbourne beneath the Southern Cross
There was an uprising about the same time
A battle was fought and many diggers lost their lives
The rain came down the blood washed away
Goldfields scarred with memories that remain
A new world is rising the old one decays
The boy becomes a man at the age of twelve
His mother left a widow together they struggled
They worked the land so hard without much success
Along came a bushranger and changed the young mans life
They rode on horse back up through the hills
Some say through Ballan Daylesford Geelong Melbourne as far as Gippsland
And famous for robberies and some they did not commit
Exhausted cold and wet they went their separate ways
This new life had lost its shine the boy was coming home
Got himself a job cutt'n down trees he could leave the past behind
But once again the scales of justice would treat him unkind
How can I make an honest living when you pin the first crime on me
Rush into my house smash up its contents and harass my family
No no no no not again
Beechworth's gold industry had collapsed and run its course
Hard times became harder times and even harder for the poor
A long stretch of Sydney road became a cemetery for dying towns
They lost business to the railway bankruptcy escalated
All the while all those problems were being gathered like fire wood
His family and friends must have sensed a hopelessness for life
His voice for the people would grow stronger day by day
Accusations repeated injustice over time were wearing thin
He finally became what they wanted and the rest is history
His brother and a couple of friends were now a gang of four
Stock theft in the early days turned into bank robbery
They held up the bank of Euroa also Jerilderie
Always the perfect gentlemen gave money to folk who had none
Yesterdays battling Australians were now outlaws on the run
Made their way to Glenrowan a republic was the plan
In hot pursuit some armed police governed by the British law
They ran and scrambled up to the inn bathing with the moons light
Recognizing the lead policemen the outlaw aimed his gun
He fired at the officer a bullet ripped through his wrist
So began the gun fire and flashes of light set the scene
They fought through the night collecting wounds and the worst was yet to come
Appearing like a ghost in a long grey coat in the misty morning sunrise
More dead than alive still the will to survive a gallant move to rescue his gang
While staggering more shots were blasted into his exposed legs
They sagged and buckled through loss of blood he was captured and taken away
With straw match and kerosene police burnt the inn to the ground
Even iron skin couldn't save these three lay dead where they were found
Forever in our hearts may their spirit guide this land
Taken to the Melbourne gaol a date was set to be hung
Petitions signed by thousands of people but the damage had been done
Walked up to the noose took one last look at the sky and said
"Ah well I suppose it has come to this such is life"
Below the big hill north of Melbourne beneath the Southern Cross
There was an uprising about the same time
A battle was fought and many diggers lost their lives
The rain came down the blood washed away
Goldfields scarred with memories that remain
A new world is rising the old one decays
The boy becomes a man at the age of twelve
His mother left a widow together they struggled
They worked the land so hard without much success
Along came a bushranger and changed the young mans life
They rode on horse back up through the hills
Some say through Ballan Daylesford Geelong Melbourne as far as Gippsland
And famous for robberies and some they did not commit
Exhausted cold and wet they went their separate ways
This new life had lost its shine the boy was coming home
Got himself a job cutt'n down trees he could leave the past behind
But once again the scales of justice would treat him unkind
How can I make an honest living when you pin the first crime on me
Rush into my house smash up its contents and harass my family
No no no no not again
Beechworth's gold industry had collapsed and run its course
Hard times became harder times and even harder for the poor
A long stretch of Sydney road became a cemetery for dying towns
They lost business to the railway bankruptcy escalated
All the while all those problems were being gathered like fire wood
His family and friends must have sensed a hopelessness for life
His voice for the people would grow stronger day by day
Accusations repeated injustice over time were wearing thin
He finally became what they wanted and the rest is history
His brother and a couple of friends were now a gang of four
Stock theft in the early days turned into bank robbery
They held up the bank of Euroa also Jerilderie
Always the perfect gentlemen gave money to folk who had none
Yesterdays battling Australians were now outlaws on the run
Made their way to Glenrowan a republic was the plan
In hot pursuit some armed police governed by the British law
They ran and scrambled up to the inn bathing with the moons light
Recognizing the lead policemen the outlaw aimed his gun
He fired at the officer a bullet ripped through his wrist
So began the gun fire and flashes of light set the scene
They fought through the night collecting wounds and the worst was yet to come
Appearing like a ghost in a long grey coat in the misty morning sunrise
More dead than alive still the will to survive a gallant move to rescue his gang
While staggering more shots were blasted into his exposed legs
They sagged and buckled through loss of blood he was captured and taken away
With straw match and kerosene police burnt the inn to the ground
Even iron skin couldn't save these three lay dead where they were found
Forever in our hearts may their spirit guide this land
Taken to the Melbourne gaol a date was set to be hung
Petitions signed by thousands of people but the damage had been done
Walked up to the noose took one last look at the sky and said
"Ah well I suppose it has come to this such is life"
