Poor Ned

Lyrics

[Verse 1] 1878 was the year I remember so well They put my father in an early grave and slung my mother in gaol Now I don't know what's right or wrong But they hung Christ on nails Six kids at home and two 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 [Verse 2] 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] 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 [Verse 3] You know they took Ned Kelly And they hung him in the Melbourne gaol He fought so very bravely Dressed in iron mail And no man single handed Can hope to break the bars There's a thousand like Ned Kelly Who'll hoist the flag of stars [Chorus] We sing 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