Fred McMahon (?) - The Wild Colonial Boy



Recorded in 1948. Uncertain of singer, may be Fred McMahon.

This song is sung a cappella.

This song is about a young Irishman who becomes a robber in Australia (possibly a highwayman) and eventually is shot down by policemen. The young man was born in Castlemaine, Ireland.

This song appears elsewhere in the Manny collection as (040-08), (089-04), (100-05).

The last words of the song, colonial boy, are spoken, not sung. In a note after her version of this song (printed in her book) Louise Manny point out that while at least one professor has suggested that the declamando style of ending songs (presumably speaking the final words) is the Australian custom but Manny asserts that it was the Irish that brought the tradition to Australia as well as New Brunswick.