Song Description

This song is a summary about the life of Ned Kelly - to some, a hero, to others, a violent criminal. All stories have two sides. It must be remmbered that in the 1870's in colonial Australia, the English controlled everything and the Irish were often ridculed, marginalised, bullied and imprisoned. Ned Kelly saw some injustice's and was not prepared to walk away. he was famous for two phrase's " I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees" and "such is life" (spoken just before execution)

Lyrics

Music & Lyrics
© Russell J Clifton
ASCAP / APRA


THE LEGEND OF KELLY


THERES A GRAVE IN THE OLD MELBOURNE JAIL
OF A MAN THEY HUNG THERE ONE DAY
HE WAS CAUGHT & CONVICTED AND FINALLY LAID
WITH THE NAME....OF KELLY.....

HE WAS BORN THE SON OF AN IRISHMAN
PROUD OF HIS COUNTRY & CLAN
BUT THERE WAS TORMENT & HATRED ALL OVER THE LAND
WITH THE NAME....OF KELLY......

AS A BOY HE WOULD RIDE & RUSTLE
AND HE LEARNT THERES NO JUSTICE AT ALL
AND HE LEARNT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOUR BACK'S TO THE WALL
WITH THE NAME....OF KELLY......
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HE WAS YOUNG & RESTLESS AND QUICK WITH HIS TONGUE
OUR WILD COLONIAL SON
AND THEY OFTEN STILL SPEAK ABOUT STRINGYBARK CREEK
AND THE LEGEND ......OF KELLY

HE WAS BOLD & FEARLESS AND CARRIED A GUN
OUR WILD COLONIAL SON
AND WE ALL KNOW HIS NAME FOR THE LEGEND REMAINS
OF KELLY ....NED KELLY
--------------------- CHORUS ---------------------------------------

WITH A SMALL BAND OF KIN & COMPANIONS
HE JUST COULD'NT TAKE ANY MORE
THEY KILLED AND ROBBED & FLAUNTED THE LAW
WITH THE NAME ...OF KELLY

WELL THEY RAN THROUGH THE BUSH & THE MOUNTAINS
FOR THIS WAS THE LAND THEY KNEW BEST
AND THERE WAS ALWAYS A LIGHT & A PLACE THEY COULD REST
WITH THE NAME....OF KELLY.
--------------------- CHORUS ------------------------------------

'TILL A COLD WINTERS MORN' IN GLENROWAN
CORNERED AND TRAPPED LIKE A HOUND
HE DEFIED THEY'RE GUNS BUT FELL TO THE GROUND
WITH THE NAME ......OF KELLY