Lyr Req: The Ballad of Ned Kelly (John Denver)

Subject: Lyr Req: John Denver - The Ballad Of Ned Kelly
From: GUEST,ddpro
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 09:02 PM

I've looked for the lyrics on the web for a long time but nothing did I found. I hope that somebody could transcribe the lyrics by ear for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2gEinVhOPs

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kell
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:31 PM

If it's the one by Sandy Denny, here it is:

Ballad of Ned Kelly


Eighteen hundred and eighty five
Is a year I remember so well
When they drove Old Brad into an early grave
And sent my mother to jail
Now I don't know what's right or wrong
But they hung Christ on nails
But with six kids at home and two still on her breast
They wouldn't even give her bail

Chorus
Oh Ned, you're better off dead
You get no peace of mind
A track's a trail
And they're hot on your tail
Before they're gonna hang you high
I did write a letter
And I sealed it with my hand
Tried to tell about Stringy Bog Creek
And tried to make them understand
Oh, that I didn't wanna kill Kennedy
Or cause his blood to run
Well he alone could have saved his life
By throwing down his gun

Chorus

Well I'd rather die like Donahue
That bush-ranger so brave
Than be taken by the government
And forced to walk in chains
Well I'd rather fight with all my might
While I have eyes to see
Well I'd rather die ten thousand times
Than hang from a gallow's tree.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kell
From: Nerd
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:46 PM

Nope, it's not that one.

Which brings to mind a question: ddpro, why the John Denver song? It's not a very good song about Ned Kelly, as these things go. The one above is all right--though there are some transcription errors in it (Stringybark Creek, etc). There are also some traditional songs about Kelly that you could turn up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 11:58 PM

Put Ned Kelly in the search box and several Ned Kelly threads will show up- and some Australian songs. At least three in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: GUEST,ddpro
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 07:18 AM

Yeah, I've searched for it, but I found nothing about it. I hope somebody could transcribe the lyrics by ear for me. Thanks a lot!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kell
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 07:21 AM

It was actually Trevor Lucas who wrote the Fotheringay song, which was used in the film starring Mick Jagger - or did I dream that bit?

Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:31 PM

Well, it's not particularly memorable, but it's a cute song and video. I'm guessing it may have been written just for this show, which appears to be some sort of John Denver Down Under special. I wonder how he could do it without his sometime sidekick Olivia Newton John (wait - isn't that Olivia at the end of the video?).

Here's what I hear. The parts that are unclear to me, are in brackets.
-Joe-


If you're ever in some outback pub late on a Saturday night,
Here's a tale the cobbers all tell about a [bull who loved to fight]
Like Robin Hood and Billy the Kid and Frank and Jesse James,
[this man he turned to robbin'], Ned Kelly was his name.

CHORUS
So, here's to Old Ned Kelly and his [suit of armor plate]
Swallowed up by progress, [just in time to be too late]

But robbin' was rough, and Ned had enough of catchin' bullets with his skin;
So his mother and his brother and his sister Kate made him a suit of tin.
With his mother and his brother and his sister Kate, they made a rowdy gang;
[Pitchin pokes at] every bloke that rode on the Melbourne train.
CHORUS

spoken: You're too late, Ned!

Yes, takin' from the rich and givin' to the poor was old Ned Kelly's game;
His reward was a prison yard and a rope that bore his name.
CHORUS (twice)


Can anybody clarify the parts I goofed up?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: GUEST,ddpro
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:16 AM

Thank you so much!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 12:39 PM

Re the other song (by Trevor Lucas) - it never made it to the Ned Kelly film.

The way Trev told it, his record producer said "I know Mick Jagger, write us a song about Ned Kelly and we'll get it in the film. Make you a fortune".

Unfortunately said producer didn't know Mr. Jagger quite as well as he thought. But as Trev said, given Mick's acting and the reception the film got, he was quite glad his name wasn't on the credits.

Such is life.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF NED KELLY (John Denver)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 02:42 AM

The Ballad Of Ned Kelly
Words and Music by John Denver

If you're ever in some outback club late on a Saturday night
Here's a tale the cobbers all tell about a bull who loved to fight
Like Robin Hood, Billy the Kid, Frank and Jesse James
This man he turned to robbin', Ned Kelly was his name

So, here's to Old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate
Swallowed up by progress, just in time to be too late

But robbin' was too rough, and Ned had enough o' catchin' bullets with his skin
So his mother and his brother and his sister Kate made him a suit of tin
With his mother and his brother and his sister Kate, they made a rowdy gang
Pitchin' pokes at every bloke that rode on the Melbourne train

So, here's to Old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate
Swallowed up by progress, just in time to be too late

SPOKEN: You are too late, Ned!

Yes, takin' from the rich and givin' to the poor was old Ned Kelly's game
His reward was a prison yard and a rope that bore his name

So, here's to Old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate
Swallowed up by progress, just in time to be too late

So, here's to Old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate
Swallowed up by progress, just in time to be too late

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: GUEST,Allen in OZ
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 03:13 AM

This sounds like a job for Bob Bolton to clarify

AD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: Muttley
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 08:31 AM

Is not the rendition set out by Sorcha a re-hash (or the original) of Redgum's "Poor Ned" - same meter, same tune, VERY similar lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kell
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 10:06 AM

unusual song (she sez. politely) - dunno if I'd want to sing it - definitely not written by an Australian.

outback club???

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: GUEST,ddpro
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 10:20 PM

I think it's "outback pub" not "outback club".

Subject: "PUB" or "CLUB"?
From: GUEST,ddpro
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 11:49 PM

Due to the American Traditional Dictionary, "pub" is "A place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold and drunk", but "club" is "A group of people organized for a common purpose, especially a group that meets regularly". So I prefer "pub".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 01:55 AM

I listened again - it's definitely "pub." Even John Denver would call it a "club."
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kell
From: Nerd
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 02:46 AM

Muttley:

Yes, Sorcha's song is the Redgum song, and also the Fotheringay song, and also the Trevor Lucas song that didn't make it into the Mick Jagger flick. Trevor Lucas, the songwriter, was the male lead singer for Fotheringay, and later Redgum's producer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kell
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 03:28 AM

ddpro

In Oz English both pubs & licenced sporting & other clubs sell alcohol!

But clubs are not famous for being in the outback, they're usually found in big cities. Outback pubs are legendary & feature in many songs & stories.

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Denver's 'The Ballad Of Ned Kelly'
From: GUEST,ddpro
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 07:56 AM

Thank you. As a person in China, I don't know that difference between "club" & "pub" before. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Ned Kelly (John Denver)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 19 - 03:01 PM

If you're ever in some outback pub late on a Saturday night
Here's a tale the cobbers all tell 'bout a bull who loved to fight.
Like Robin Hood, Billy the Kid, Frank and Jesse James,
His fancy turned to robbin', Ned Kelly was his name.

So Here's to old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate,
Swallowed up by progress just in time to be too late.

But robbin' was rough and Ned had enough catchin' bullets with his skin
So his mother and his brother and his sister, Kate
Made him a suit of tin.
With his mother and his brother and his sister, Kate
They made a rowdy gang,
Pitchin' pokes in every bloke that rode on the Melbourne train.

So here's to old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate,
Swallowed up by progress just in time to be too late.
(You're too late, Ned!)

Yes, takin' from the rich and givin' to the poor
was old Ned Kelly's game;
His reward was a prison yard and a rope that bore his name.

So here's to old Ned Kelly and his suit of armor plate,
Swallowed up by progress just in time to be too late.