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about

Ben Hall had taken part in the robbery of the gold escort at Eugowra Rocks near Forbes , in New South Wales, in 1862, the largest gold robbery of its day. This ballad is attributed to John McGuire, Hall’s brother-in-law, who witnessed the actions of the police through the Streets of Forbes on the 5th of May, 1865. They are indisputable. However, the exact circumstances of the attempted capture (or was it?) of Hall by the police at dawn that morning are not clear. There are different accounts.
Cello by Natasha Jaffe

lyrics

============== LYRICS =================
THE STREETS OF FORBES (1865, pub. 1911)
by John McGuire : Brother-in-law of Ben Hall (1837-1865)
======================================
[V.1]
Come all you Lachlan men, and a sorrowful tale I'll tell
Concerning a bold hero who through misfortune fell.
His name it is Ben Hall, a man of good renown,
Who was taken from his station, and like a dog shot down.
----------------------------------------
[V.2]
Three years he roamed the roads, and he showed the “traps” some fun.
A thousand pounds was on his head, with Gilbert and John Dunn,
Ben parted from his comrades, for the outlaws had agreed
To give away bushranging and cross the briny sea.
--------------------------------------------------
[V.3]
Ben went to Goobang Creek … Ah, but that was his downfall,
For riddled like a sieve was the valiant Ben Hall.
'Twas early in the morning, upon the fifth of May
That the seven police surrounded him as fast asleep he lay.
-------------------------------------------
[V.4]
Billy Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead,
Then the troopers fired madly and they filled him full of lead
Then they wrapped him in his blanket, and they strapped him to his prad
And they dragged him through the streets of Forbes to show the prize they had !
======================================

credits

from Convicts and Bushrangers, track released November 20, 2019
Traditional. Cello by Natasha Jaffe

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The Queensland Tiger

The Queensland Tiger covers traditional Australian ballads mainly from 19C.: e.g. Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, Breaker Morant, Charles Thatcher, etc…. true to the original works.
website : www.thequeenslandtiger.com or Youtube channel : The Queensland Tiger ... more

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