The story of Ned Kelly & Glenrowan in music.

DARREN COGGAN.

        Aussie Country singer Darren Coggan, from the CD "Hometown" (ABC-EMI) 1997.

   
This is a quote from the CD sleeve about the song "Silence and Me"
followed by the lyrics...

SILENCE AND ME (JOE BYRNE)

Lyrics and music by Ken McBeath  (copyright- Control 1988)

quote from sleeve---

Joe Byrne was a well groomed, educated man and will go down in history
along with Steve Hart, Dan Kelly and Ned Kelly as the most noted,
celebrated and undeniably ruthless criminal gang in Australian history.

Joe Byrne was a man loyally dedicated to his mates, a remarkably gentle
figure, who rose to the sense of the occasion that shifted the 'Kelly
Gang' scenario from a grubby back lot blue into issues of injustice that
ignited the curiosity of a nation. Joe Byrne laments from the grave the
dream of freedom that the 'Kelly Gang' were so driven by. Freedom from
the tyranny of the upper class, freedom from the graft and corruption of
the judicial system but knowing all along the harsh reality of their
quest. The Glenrowan Inn where the gang were trapped and defeated was
set ablaze during their 'last stand' siege. Joe Byrne's corpse was
dragged from the burning inn by a native tracker and taken to Benalla
Police Station where they strung him up outside a cell door for public
view. The only attendants at Byrne's funeral were two policeman and an
undertaker.

LYRICS-----

They closed my eyes on a Sunday,

To those who once showed me fear,

Strung me up on a Tuesday,

For a handsome souvenir,

But I never was so lonesome without good company,

And when they lay me in my grave that night,

There was just silence and me.

Well here's to a short life and a merry one at that.

Let's ride into the bush me lads, don't get caught out on the flat,

We'll talk of San Francisco and escape across the sea,

But we all know that a tombstone is the freedom we will meet.

They crushed me underfoot, like a snail or a worm,

Strung me up like nothing,

Is that there Joe Byrne?

Chorus

    My opinion, this CD would have to be 'the' best and most 'moving' song I 
have ever heard. 
This song is about what happened to Joe Byrne, written by a person who really 
understood what happened.

His website is at http://www.darrencoggan.com/ 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ASHLEY DAVIES.

THE SIEGE OF GLENROWAN
“Police reinforcements arrived by train and on horseback, completely 
surrounding the Inn, cutting Ned off from Dan and Steve. So, as dawn 
approached, he armed himself with three revolvers and gathered 
strength for one last attempt at rescue.”

THE LAST STAND
“It seemed huge, inhuman, a metal monster with an oilskin coat draped 
over its shoulder. A trooper yelled a warning, fired a shot. No effect. 
The thing drew a revolver, fired back. And all hell broke loose as Ned Kelly, 
all but unconscious from loss of blood, attacked 34 police and tried to drive 
them away from the side of the Inn.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

PETER HICKS.

Here is a song that might set the cat amongst the pigeons!

The blurb from the web site of Peter Hicks says the following: Peter Hicks  
is a folk singer and singer-songwriter very much in the tradition of the likes 
of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.

 
His songs have their roots in the everyday lives and experiences of everyday 
people, and in the issues of greatest concern to us all.

From the CD The Times We've Been Through.

Ned Kelly Souvenir Song
 

by Peter Hicks and Geoff Francis

You should go down to Glenrowan, they've got so much going
And there's heaps for you to see,
You can start your day at the Ned Kelly museum, it's a slice of history.
You can see all them relics and lots of exhibits
And the newspaper cuttings too,
But best of all are the souvenirs you can take away with you.

They've got.... Ned Kelly boomerangs, Ned Kelly billy cans,
Ned Kelly kangaroos,
Ned Kelly toothpicks, Ned Kelly horse whips
And Ned Kelly helmets too.
Ned Kelly pistols, Ned Kelly crystals,
New Age Ned Kellies and more,
With Ned Kelly key rings and Ned Kelly g-strings, made in Singapore.

For a good half hour you can take in the power of
The Ned Kelly theatre show.
They've got illustrations and animations and Ned Kellies on the go.
It's such a thrill that you won't sit still
And you'll find the time has flown.
And you'll sure want to stop at the theatre shop for something to take home.

They've got...Ned Kelly boomerangs, Ned Kelly billy cans,
Ned Kelly kangaroos,
Ned Kelly toothpicks, Ned Kelly horse whips
And Ned Kelly helmets too.
Ned Kelly condoms, Ned Kelly bonbons,
Ned Kelly jams and sauce,
Ned Kelly pencils, Ned Kelly stencils
And Ned Kellies on a horse.
Ned Kelly pistols, Ned Kelly crystals,
New age Ned Kellies and more,
With Ned Kelly key rings and Ned Kelly g-strings made in Singapore.

Be sure not to miss the giant Ned Kelly
I know you'll be impressed.
But of all of the wonders of Glenrowan, the Ned Kelly Inn is best.
You can sit outside in the noon day sun and sip on a Ned Kelly ale,
And while you're there you can pick up your share of the artefacts for sale.

They've got...Ned Kelly boomerangs, Ned Kelly billy cans,
Ned Kelly kangaroos,
Ned Kelly toothpicks, Ned Kelly horse whips
And Ned Kelly helmets too.
Ned Kelly condoms, Ned Kelly bonbons,
Ned Kelly jams and sauce,
Ned Kelly pencils, Ned Kelly stencils
And Ned Kellies on a horse.
Ned Kelly teaspoons, Ned Kelly perfumes,
Ned Kelly bars of soap,
Ned Kelly beer mats, Ned Kelly bush hats,
And Ned Kellies on a rope.
Ned Kelly pistols, Ned Kelly crystals,
New age Ned Kellies and more,
With Ned Kelly key rings and Ned Kelly g-strings made in Singapore.

Also: Kelly Gang National Music Muster, Tamworth.