Bob,

Here's another Ned Kelly song with reference to Stringybark Creek. John Schumann says that Redgum thought they'd written the tune, until they went into the studio to record it, with Trevor Lucas as producer; he went "That's my tune, but you've changed it a good bit", so they gave him the credit! I've no idea which song Trevor used the tune on, and his widow, Liz doesn't know, either.

POOR NED --- Redgum

Eighteen-hundred and seventy-eight 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 up on nails.
Six kids at home, 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.

You know I wrote a letter 'bout Stringybark 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 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 X2

Rob^^^