Two bushranging songs from Western Australia about one John Bolitho Johns:

MOONDYNE JOE [1]

Jenny Gaunt, c.2018

Joseph Johns (or “Moondyne Joe”) came on the ‘Pyrenees’
From Wales to West Australia in 1853
10 years for stealing food, his hungry mouth to feed
The judge was tough who sentenced him: “A lesson to his breed” .
CHORUS : Said Moondyne Joe:
“You may be the boss, my friend, but you’re not the boss of me”
‘Cos all men want to be free.

Joseph worked hard on the land with good behaviour true
‘Cos when you do that, they will hand a ticket of leave to you
‘Ticket of leave!’ he cried aloud, ‘I’m free again’ he sang
‘I’ll head inland to Toodyay and work as a bushman’.
CH : Said Moondyne Joe ……

Being good can be difficult when opportunity calls
And unmarked cattle would be tempting to you all
Arrested time and time again, the governor declared
‘If Joe escapes this gaol again, I swear he will be spared!’
CH : Said Moondyne Joe ……

    To be free of shackles, to live at liberty; Said all men want to be free

Locked in Freo Gaol again, he just unscrewed the door
And stole the judge’s thoroughbred, by god that man was sore
Two years on the run and captured at an inn
The promise stood and Joe was soon escaping once again.
CH : Said Moondyne Joe ……

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok_ReCWZar4   Jenny Gaunt
A Perth, WA, singer-songwriter, Jenny is joined here by musicians Ash Wheeler (double bass, piano accordian), Alex Kent (percussion), Dan Walsh (banjo).


MOONDYNE JOE [2]

Roger Montgomery, c.1980

Come all you convicts bold and true and listen to my tale, Of a transportee who did refuse to stay in Fremantle Gaol
Ten years was his sentence long, for the stealing he was taken, Of two cheeses and two loaves of bread and a piece of old chewed bacon.

For serving ten years Joe was freed and he moved out of town, But only to be harmed by them who try to drag us down
Arrested and then gaoled on suspicion of bush ranging, Joe says “Me boys, I’ll not stay here for another ten year’s caging”.

CHORUS :
“Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!”

The traps they then took after Joe and brought him back to town, Sentenced him to full three years : “We’ll keep this bastard down!”
But no evidence of bush ranging could those police find to charge him, Three years was the lesson, me boys, for trying to escape them.

Again Joe served his time then left the gaol, the bars, and locks, Once again bold Joe was caught for the stealing of an ox
Ten more years they sentenced him, he swore he would not stay, Four months later, hear the cry : “Moondyne Joe’s Away!”

CH:   “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!”

Again those traps they follow Joe; he’s got to finish time, Eleven years in gaol and one in irons, that magistrate did sign
Moondyne Joe wrote out his case, pleading false arrest, That judge agreed, took off four years, but made him serve the rest.

They built a special cell for him with a ring set in the floor, Ten bars upon the window, ten bolts upon the door
Joe tried to escape again : “We’ll have him till he dies!”, He dug a hole just like a mole – and once again they cried :

CH:   “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!”

This time Joe took to bush ranging and “Bail Up!” was his call, For two short months he rode the bush until the traps did pall
The bullets flew, a man went down, the police were armed too well, Once again bold Joe was caught and thrown back into gaol.

He took a job in prison, lads, in the carpenter’s workshop, The warders caught him making a key for the front door lock
Six more months in irons he got, in his special prison cell, In solitary confinement there, but his spirits never fell.

An averter it was written out in Moondyne Joe’s own hand, Delivered to the Governor, seated in his house so grand
Joe tells his own story and owned the law’s delay, The Governor’s written a pardon and it’s “Moondyne Joe’s Away!”

CH:   “Away, Away, Moondyne Joe’s Away!” – the convicts smile, the screws they roar, “Moondyne Joe’s Away!”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mjq9dbT0hQ   MUCKY DUCK BUSH BAND, 1980 [from “At Last! The Mucky Duck Album”
The lineup at that time was : Davey Browne / Roger Montgomery (Composer) / Butch Hooper / Rob Kay / Jerry Everard]

I note that the “Moondyne Joe” song and its Reprise, both written by Roger Montgomery (Music Roy Abbott), for the 1982 Perth musical-play of the same name, are not the same as that above.
(I also note that a copy of the musical’s program/libretto is currently going on EBay for close to US$70 - Well, I still have my copy!!!)

There are more songs about Moondyne Joe on YT by, for instance, Russell Morris, Johnny Ashcroft, Renegade, Ashlea Reale, et al. Plus there are some anonymous historical verses on some websites. e.g.

Anonymous – sung by the public at the time of his 1867 escape[15] WIKI :
The Governor's son has got the pip,
The Governor's got the measles.
For Moondyne Joe has give 'em the slip,
Pop goes the weasel.

See the history (and photo) of WA’s bushranger and escapeologist, John Bolitho Johns, 1826 – 1900 - aka “Moondyne Joe” :
https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/history/the-convict-era/characters/moondyne-joe/

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moondyne_Joe_-_A_Picturesque_Outlaw - by Charles William Ferguson, 1928

Plus lots more stuff online……..



R-J