Ned Kelly Lyrics

They turned him out of Beechworth gaol in 1871
He put in three long years behind those walls
For the stealing of a horse he swore he'd never done
But now he sees the sun and turns his back upon it all

"Walk softly," cried the magistrate who'd counted up the score
"Walk softly," cried the turnkey as he clanged the iron door
"Walk softly," cried his comrades cringing on that prison floor

But the sun was on the meadow
And the wind is in the gum tree
And the Beechworth gaol is many miles behind you

In a prison ship in shackles his father reached this land
He stole one pig and for that crime he paid
Inside a cold dark prison cell he died a broken man
And he left his wife to curse the crown
While his children dug his grave

"Speak softly," cried the jailor as he lay the slop upon his plate
"Speak softly," cried the turnkey as he opened up the gate
"Speak softly," cried his mother, "it's been oh so long, to wait"

But the sun was on the meadow
And the wind is in the gum tree
And the Beechworth gaol is many miles behind you

They told him it was over and his song was damn well song
They told him wild Australia would have to change
They told him he'd better watch his temper and he'd better watch his tone
For the next time he walked inside those gates he'd surely hang

"Speak boldly," cried his father from the grave in which he lay
"Speak boldly," cried his country, "there's a trust that's been betrayed"
"Speak boldly," cried his conscience, "there's a debt and it must be paid"

But the sun was on the meadow
And the wind is in the gum tree
And the Beechworth gaol is many miles behind you