Lyrics: Redgum. Redgum Anthology 1976-1986. Poor Ned.

Eighteen-hundred & 78 was the year I remeber so well
they put my father in an early grave and slung my mother in gaol
now I don't know whats right or wrong
but they hung Christ on nails
6 kids at home & 2 still on the breast
they wouldn't even give us bail

( CHORUS:

Poor Ned, you're better off dead
at least you'll get some peace of mind
you're out on the track
they're right on your back
boy they're gonna hang you high )

You know I wrote a letter 'bout Stringy-Bark Creek
so they would understand
that I might be a bushranger
but I'm not a murdering man
I didn't want to shoot Kennedy

or that copper Lonnigan
he alone could have saved his life
by throwing down his gun

CHORUS

You know they took Ned Kelly
& they hung him in the Melbourne gaol
he fought so very bravely
dressed in iron mail
& no man single handed
can hope to break the bars
there's a thousand like Ned Kelly
who'll hoist the flag of stars

we sing...CHORUS